Research question

Research areas of interest:

o Basic mesenchymal stem cell biology.

o Studies defining the lineage relationship between mesenchymal stem cells
and other stem cells.

o Novel markers for mesenchymal stem cell identification to enhance isolation
and purification and to facilitate ex vivo stem cell expansion systems.

o Refinement of cellular culture systems and elucidation of the molecular
events that permit ex vivo expansion of mesenchymal stem cells.

o Identification and characterization of functional, molecular regulators of
mesenchymal stem cell self-renewal and commitment.

o In vivo and in vitro assay systems for human mesenchymal stem cells.

o Role of growth factors, cytokines, receptors, transmembrane signaling,
marrow microenvironment, and adhesive proteins in mesenchymal stem cell
interactions and hematopoiesis.

o Identification and characterization of mechanisms by which mesenchymal stem
cells increase stem cell engraftment.

o Histocompatibility and allo-interactions, mechanism of induction of
transplant tolerance, minimizing the graft vs. host effect and graft
rejection for organ and cellular transplants of heart, lung, or blood
tissues.

o Studies on the biology of mesenchymal stem cells in aging including changes
in potential, population dynamics, mobilization, and interaction with the
aging environment.

o Basic research studies to develop future mesenchymal stem cell therapies to
correct genetic diseases or for repair or regeneration of tissue or organ
damage.

o Basic research studies to develop future gene therapy approaches using
mesenchymal stem cells as targets for gene insertion and long-term expression
of normal genes using viral and non-viral approaches to gene transduction.