Our lab pursues research on genetic pathways that control skeletal development and diseases. We are specifically interested in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and GPCR-mediated signaling, as GPCR represents the largest group of receptors and the largest class of targets for drug development. We aim to understand how GPCR interact with other critical signaling pathways to regulate skeletal development and disorders.
Cartilage-enriched GPCR
We try to understand how cartilage-enriched GPCR regulate the homeostasis of multiple joints, including the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in the head, the intervertebral discs (IVDs) in the spine, and the knee joints in the long bone. We recently discovered that ADGRG6, one of the cartilage-enriched GPCRs, plays a crucial role in growth plate homeostasis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common diseases in the world and is the leading cause of disability with no disease-modifying therapies available. OA can affect multiple joints of the body, including the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and knee joints. We use both genetic and surgical-induced OA mouse models to investigate OA pathogenesis, tissue repair, and targeted drug delivery.
Multi-omics Studies
The complex structure and high molecular heterogeneity are one of the major barriers to making progress in understanding the etiology of joint diseases. The development of spatial transcriptomics offers us a robust approach to studying unbiased gene expression while maintaining the anatomical context of the organ. We are interested in combining spatial transcriptomics with single-cell multi-omics approaches to understand the temporal and spatial requirements of genes and pathways that control joint integrity.
Gene Dosage in Skeletal Maintenance
We are interested in understanding how the level of transcriptional factors, such as SOX9, regulates the development of congenital and degenerative skeletal diseases.
