{"id":3245,"date":"2016-09-06T20:40:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-07T00:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/tarc\/research\/basic-and-translational-research\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T15:04:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T20:04:31","slug":"basic-and-translational-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/tarc\/research\/basic-and-translational-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic and Translational Research"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Thurston Arthritis Research Center\u2019s Basic and Translational Research program is investigating the underlying mechanisms that promote the development and progression of conditions relevant to rheumatology, allergy and immunology.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Basic and Translational Research \u2014 Faculty and Primary Focus:<\/h2>\n
\"Dr.
Dr. Richard Loeser and his lab members use a variety of methods and specialized equipment to study cellular activity related to osteoarthritis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Richard F. Loeser, Jr., MD (Director):<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Joseph P. Archie, Jr., Eminent Professor of Medicine
\n<\/strong>Mechanisms responsible for joint tissue destruction in osteoarthritis<\/strong>, including the role of aging and oxidative stress and cell signaling stimulated by matrix fragments acting through integrin receptors.
\n-More information about about Dr. Loeser\u2019s lab<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

Scott Commins, MD, PhD:<\/a>
\nAssociate Professor of Medicine<\/strong>
\nFood allergy to red meat<\/strong>; including why allergic reactions are delayed 3-6 hours after eating, and the role that tick bites may have in initiating allergic response to the carbohydrate galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (\u201calpha-gal\u201d).<\/p>\n

\"\"
Scott Commins, MD, PhD, (right) is a leading allergist and thought leader investigating an allergy to meat, which is believed to be related to tick bites.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brian Diekman, PhD:<\/a>
\nAssistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering<\/strong>
\nThe mechanisms by which aging and genetics contribute to osteoarthritis<\/strong> risk and how regenerative medicine technologies may lead to novel treatment strategies.
\n-More information about Dr. Diekman\u2019s lab<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Onyinye Iweala, MD, PhD:<\/a>
\nAssistant Professor of Medicine
\n<\/strong>Glycolipids, unconventional T cells, and their role in alpha-gal red meat allergy<\/strong> and epigenetic regulation of allergic, anti-parasitic, and regulatory immune responses.<\/p>\n

\"Microscopic
Much of the Basic and Translational work performed at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center involves studying cellular changes that can lead to cartilage damage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

-More information about Dr. Iweala’s lab<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Lara Longobardi, PhD:<\/a>
\nAssistant Professor of Medicine<\/strong>
\nThe mechanisms leading to osteoarthritis development<\/strong>, especially the role of chemokines in cartilage and bone generation after injury, and how they affect pain response.<\/p>\n

Doug Phanstiel, PhD:<\/a>
\nAssistant Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology<\/strong>
\nThe manner in which DNA loops regulate monocyte differentiation<\/strong>, both in healthy cells and in the context of rheumatoid arthritis.
\n-More information about Dr. Phanstiel\u2019s lab<\/a>.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Erin Steinbach, MD, PhD:\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>
\nAssistant Professor of Medicine<\/strong>
\nDefining the regulatory landscape (epigenetics) of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) as a mechanism of barrier dysfunction during peanut allergy<\/strong>; identifying biomarkers and IEC molecular signatures that predict clinical outcomes in peanut allergy.<\/p>\n

\n

Additional Research Faculty and Primary Focus:<\/h2>\n

Dan Bracey, MD, PhD: (Orthopedics)
\nHip and knee arthroplasty, tissue biorepository, tissue engineering, bone regeneration, xenotransplantation<\/p>\n

Matthew Fisher, PhD (Biomedical Engineering)<\/a>
\nBiomechanics, growth, tissue engineering, large animal models.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Duncan Lascelles, PhD (Translational Pain Research)<\/a>
\nNeurobiology, pharmacology, regenerative medicine<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Janet Rubin, MD (Endocrinology and Metabolism)\u00a0<\/a>
\nMetabolic bone diseases<\/p>\n

Lauren Schnabel, PhD, DVM: (Comparative Medicine)<\/a>
\nRegenerative\u00a0 and biologic therapies, musculoskeletal injury, orthopedic biofilm infection, large animal models.<\/p>\n

Maya Styner, MD (Endocrinology and Metabolism)<\/a>
\nMetabolic bone disease, osteoporosis, lipodystrophies, and general endocrinology<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Jenny Ting, PhD (Genetics)<\/a>
\nInnate immunity, dendritic cell function, cell death, autophagy, signal transduction<\/p>\n

Barb Vilen, PhD (Microbiology and Immunology)<\/a>
\nMechanisms of tolerance in systemic lupus erythematosus<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Morika Williams, PhD, DVM (Comparative Medicine)<\/a>
\nMechanisms by which early life injury and pain contribute to osteoarthritis-associated pain, especially role of neuroimmune cell responses and how they affect pain<\/p>\n

Ming-Feng Hsueh, PhD (Cell Biology and Physiology)<\/a>
\nTranslational musculoskeletal and aging biology, utilizing cutting-edge multi-omic technologies to pioneer new therapeutic strategies for regenerating damaged joint tissue, with a particular focus on osteoarthritis (OA)<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Thurston Arthritis Research Center\u2019s Basic and Translational Research program is investigating the underlying mechanisms that promote the development and progression of conditions relevant to rheumatology, allergy and immunology. Basic and Translational Research \u2014 Faculty and Primary Focus: Richard F. Loeser, Jr., MD (Director): Joseph P. 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