Samantha Weaver, PhD

Musculoskeletal conditions are among the leading reasons that people visit their doctor. Our laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms that regulate bone and cartilage development and disease with the long-term goal of validating novel treatment targets and testing new therapies for osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Despite the wide prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, we still lack sufficient, effective therapies that regenerate bone and cartilage once they have been lost. Our lab utilizes various strategies, including development of transgenic mice, surgical induction of orthopedic disease in animal models, in vitro cell culture, and cutting-edge imaging, to probe the molecular cues underlying musculoskeletal development and disease. We also utilize transgenic mice to study natural life events where there is extensive bone turnover and/or cartilage loss, such as pregnancy and lactation, menopause, or aging. The ultimate goal is to develop strategies to both prevent extensive bone and cartilage loss and to discover new therapeutics that can aid in these tissues’ regeneration.