Description of Research Expertise
My lab’s primary research goals are directed towards understanding the genetic, cellular, and mechanical mechanisms that regulate normal development, disease, and repair of dense connective tissues. I am particularly interested in identifying markers that define resident progenitors vs. mature cell types and the environmental cues (molecular and mechanical) that regulate their differentiation. I was awarded a K99/R00 grant in 2015 to define the tendon cell lineage and pathways that regulate tenogenesis, which led to our current work investigating the role of hedgehog signaling in tendon-to-bone repair and developing novel drug delivery systems targeting this pathway to improve repair outcomes. My lab also examines how mechanical forces impact the formation and maintenance of dense connective tissues. Ultimately, the long-term goals of my lab are directed towards translating these mechanistic studies to novel therapeutic strategies.
Selected Publications
Talayah A. Johnson, Natalie Fogarty, Alisia Lin, Tonia K. Tsinman, Xi Jiang, Eiki Koyama, Lin Han, Josh R. Baxter, Joel D. Boerckel, Robert L. Mauck, Nathaniel A. Dyment: Reduced loading after sciatic nerve resection impairs hindlimb growth International Society of Bone Morphometry Meeting : 2024.
Talayah A. Johnson, Natalie Fogarty, Alisia Lin, Tonia K. Tsinman, Xi Jiang, Eiki Koyama, Lin Han, Josh R. Baxter, Joel D. Boerckel, Robert L. Mauck, Nathaniel A. Dyment: Reduced Loading After Sciatic Nerve Resection Impairs Hindlimb Growth Society of Neuroscience Annual Meeting : 2024.
Talayah A. Johnson, Natalie Fogarty, Alisia Lin, Tonia K. Tsinman, Xi Jiang, Eiki Koyama, Lin Han, Josh R. Baxter, Joel D. Boerckel, Robert L. Mauck, Nathaniel A. Dyment: Reduced loading after sciatic nerve resection impairs hindlimb growth American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Annual Meeting : 2024.
J. Marcelin, R. Madi, T. Kamalitdinov, X. Jiang, D-H. Kim, R. L. Mauck, A. Kuntz, N. Dyment: Tailored delivery of a small molecule agonist for hedgehog signaling activation in tendon-to-bone integration Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference : 2024.
Meghan E. Kupratis, Yuqi Zhang, Jiaqi Xiang, Bryan Kwok, Elisabeth A. Lemmon, Nathaniel A. Dyment, Lin Han, Eiki Koyama, Robert L. Mauck: Micromechanics and mechanoresponsivity of the developing porcine meniscus Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference : 2024.
J. Xiang, B. Kwok, M. Fan, M. E. Kupratis, S. Tufa, D. R. Keene, R. L. Mauck, N.A. Dyment, E. Koyama, L. Han: Distinct molecular and structural traits of permanent versus transient cartilage in early development Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference : 2024.
Mary Kate Evans, Ellie Bernstein, Tonia K. Tsinman, Ellie J. Ferguson, Xi Jiang, Joel D. Boerckel, Lin Han, Eiki Koyama, Robert L. Mauck, Nathaniel A. Dyment: Scleraxis-targeted deletion of non-muscle myosin leads to tendon degeneration Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference : 2024.
Talayah A. Johnson, Natalie Fogarty, Alisia Lin, Tonia K. Tsinman, Xi Jiang, Eiki Koyama, Lin Han, Josh R. Baxter, Joel D. Boerckel, Robert L. Mauck, Nathaniel A. Dyment: Reduced loading after sciatic nerve resection impairs hindlimb growth and maturation Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference : 2024.
Koo BH, Lee YJ, Park NR, Heo SC, Hudson DM, Fernandes AA, Friday CS, Hast MW, Corr DT, Keene DR, Tufa SF, Dyment NA, Joeng KS.: Characterization of TGFβ1-induced tendon-like structure in the scaffold-free three-dimensional tendon cell culture system Sci Rep 14 : 9495,2024.
Li J, Gui T, Yao L, Guo H, Lin YL, Lu J, Duffy M, Zgonis M, Mauck R, Dyment N, Zhang Y, Scanzello C, Seale P, Qin L.: Synovium and infrapatellar fat pad share common mesenchymal progenitors and undergo coordinated changes in osteoarthritis J Bone Miner Res 39 : 161-176,2024.
Academic Contact Information
McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory
330A Stemmler Hall
3450 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia,
PA
19104-6081
Phone: 215-746-8138