Gullbrand Laboratory

Welcome to Gullbrand Laboratory

The Gullbrand Lab studies how aberrant structure-function relationships across the spine contribute to the initiation and progression of degenerative disc disease. Our work spans multiple length scales across model systems of disease and human tissue. We probe spinal tissues by employing a suite of biomechanical and bioimaging tools, elucidating connections between tissue structure and degeneration of intervertebral discs, vertebral bones, cartilage endplates, and facet joints. Our group also focuses on utilizing this knowledge to inform the development of tissue-engineering-based approaches for disc regeneration. Central to this work, in collaboration with Harvey Smith, MD and Robert Mauck, PhD, is the translation of a whole tissue engineered intervertebral disc replacement towards clinical application in human patients. 

The Gullbrand lab is uniquely situated in the Translational Musculoskeletal Research Center at the Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center.

Follow us on LinkedIn: Sarah Gullbrand
Research Engineers: Matthew Fainor & Brianna Orozco
PhD Students: Emily Sharp & Janai Augustin


Gullbrand Lab Presents at ORS 2025
February 11, 2025
Congratulations to all members of the Gullbrand Lab and our collaborators on their presentations at the Orthopaedic Research Society's 2025 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona! During the spine section meeting, Brianna Orozco and Emily Sharp were presented awards to support their travel to, collaboration with, and mentorship from experts in the field. While Brianna, Emily, and Matthew presented much of our lab's work during the poster sessions, our collaborators took to the stage during three of the conference's podium sessions. Hunter Levis and Estaban Ongini presented our two most recently published works, the first in collaboration with the Bowles Lab exploring the use of CRISPR-edited human mesenchymal stromal cells for large-scale disc tissue engineering, and the second in collaboration with the Snedeker Lab and ZuriMED Technologies characterizing how their fiberlocking device performs during annulus fibrosus repair in a large animal model. Finally, Dr. Kevin Burt presented work using imaging mass cytometry to determine how the cellular landscape of the intervertebral disc changes in response to injury. You can find the details about all these projects on the ORS website, and we look forward to connecting with everyone in the field again soon!

Congratulations to Esteban D. Ongini and Coauthors on JOR Spine Publication
February 06, 2025
Congratulations to Esteban D. Ongini and coauthors on their JOR Spine publication entitled "Annulus Fibrosus Repair via Interpenetration of a Non-Woven Scaffold Supports Tissue Integration and Prevents Re-Herniation." This latest publication is part of our collaborative work with the Zürich-based medical device company ZuriMED Technologies and the Snedeker Lab using their proprietary fiberlocking device for AF repair.

Emily Sharp Wins 2025 ORS Dr. Peter Roughley Award
December 10, 2024
Congratulations to PhD student Emily Sharp for earning the 2025 Orthopaedic Research Society Dr. Peter Roughley Award. Awarded by the ORS Spine Section, the Dr. Peter Roughley Award recognizes outstanding work in spine, disc, and cartilage biology and provides support for a mentor/trainee research collaboration. Under the mentorship of Dr. Sibylle Grad, Emily will use her award to travel to the AO Research Institute in Davos, Switzerland, utilizing their innovative six degree-of-freedom bioreactor to better understand how multi-functional biomaterials may heal or fail disc herniation patients.

Brianna Orozco Wins 2025 ORS Spine Section Travel Fellowship
December 10, 2024
Congratulations to Research Engineer and Master's student Brianna Orozco for earning the 2025 Orthopaedic Research Society Spine Section Travel Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship provides support for an ORS Spine Section researcher to collaborate with a host Principal Investigator. Brianna will use her fellowship to deepen our lab's understanding how trans-endplate transport into the intervertebral disc changes with degeneration in collaboration with Dr. Aaron Fields at the University of California San Francisco.

Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Gullbrand and Coauthors on Acta Biomaterialia Publication
December 09, 2024
Congratulations to Dr. Gullbrand and coauthors on their publication in Acta Biomaterialia entitled "Restoration of Physiologic Loading After Engineered Disc Implantation Mitigates Immobilization-Induced Facet Joint and Paraspinal Muscle Degeneration."

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