Brian Walczak, DO
Position title: Assistant Professor of Orthopedics in the Department of Orthopedics & Rehabilitation
Email: walczak@ortho.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-263-5636
Address:
5th Floor Wi Institute Medical Research
1111 Highland Ave
Madison, WI 53705
- Organ System/Disease Focus
- Cartilage Repair and Joint Related Disease
- Aligned Research Focus
- Stem Cell Biology; Cellular Reprogramming; Translational Sciences; Preclinical Models; Clinical Trials.
Research Description
My research is broadly focused on clinical and translational sciences. Specifically, my current research is directed towards enhancing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cartilage repair therapies. This work is being done in the laboratory of Dr. Wan-Ju Li who is an expert in using MSCs for orthopedic applications. Together, we are using synovial fluid-derived MSCs as a model for orthopedic disorders, including cartilage injury and osteoarthritis. With data obtained from this approach, we are studying ways to enhance MSCs for cartilage repair in both an age-associated osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis models.
Selected References
- Wan-Ju Li, Hongli Jiao, Brian E. Walczak. Emerging opportunities for induced pluripotent stem cells in orthopaedics, Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 2019, ISSN 2214-031X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jot.2019.03.001.
- New Investigator Recognition Award (NiRA), Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS), February 1, 2019 – February 5, 2019. Reprogrammed Mesenchymal Stem Cells Acquire Enhanced Therapeutic Potential For Cartilage Repair.
- Walczak BE, Nies M, Trask D, Squire M, Baer GS. Osteochondral Graft Size is Significantly Associated with Increased Force and Decreased Chondrocyte Viability. Am J Sports Med. 2018 Mar;46(3):623-631. PMID: 29328886.