How does the musculoskeletal system work?

Projects

Proprioception

Our lab focuses on uncovering the mysteries of proprioception—the body's sense of self-movement and balance, which is essential for regulating posture and coordinating movements. At the heart of proprioception is the muscle spindle, a unique mechanosensory organ within muscles that detects stretch and contributes to our body’s awareness and control. Despite its importance, much remains unknown about how this organ regenerates after injury or deteriorates with age, leading to issues like balance loss. Our research also suggests that the muscle spindle plays a critical role in common musculoskeletal pathologies such as scoliosis and hip dysplasia. To address these questions, we are dedicated to discovering the molecular mechanisms underlying the development, regeneration, and aging of the muscle spindle. Our lab utilizes cutting-edge technologies, including mouse genetics, 3D imaging, and transcriptome analysis, providing a dynamic and innovative environment for new students interested in advancing the field of musculoskeletal science.

Attachment between tendon and bone

One of our main projects focuses on understanding musculoskeletal assembly, specifically the formation of physical attachments between the system’s components. Our research focuses on the enthesis, a unique transitional tissue that connects tendons to bones. Transitional tissues bridge two distinct tissue types by creating cellular and extracellular gradients between them, enabling seamless integration and function. Despite its importance, the biological mechanisms underlying the formation of these transitional tissues remain largely unknown. Our lab is dedicated to unraveling the developmental biology of the enthesis, with the goal of advancing our understanding of musculoskeletal assembly and tissue engineering.

Bone Shape

The unique three-dimensional morphology of each bone, which is highly intricate and irregular, has a profound effect on its function. Yet, surprisingly little is known about bone morphogenesis, partly due to the technical difficulty to document and analyze the morphogenetic sequence of developing bones. To overcome this obstacle and decipher these mechanisms, we combine advanced imaging modalities, high-throughput computer vision algorithms and computational models for analyzing temporal series of 3D images.