The Bone Disease Program of Texas - BCM Participants
Steven Abrams, M.D.
Professor, Department of Pediatrics - Nutrition
I am interested in studying the mineral metabolism of children using stable isotopes. My laboratory measures mineral absorption and bone calcium metabolism in healthy children and those with various bone related illnesses.
Phone: 713-798-7124
E-mail:
Carlos Bacino, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
Dr. Bacino's research interests include clinical studies in patients with imprinting disorders such as Angelman Syndrome, and anthropometric studies in craniofacial disorders.
Phone: 832-822-4291
E-mail:
Nicola Brunetti-Pierri, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
Dr. Brunetti-Pierri's research interests include clinical and translational research studies in skeletal dysplasias and defects of bone mineralization.
Phone: 832-822-4291
E-mail:
Alan R. Davis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics - Hematology-Oncology Cell & Gene
My research interests are in the area of heterotopic ossification as it relates to endochondral bone formation. My laboratory has identified some of the earliest physiological cross talk between the immune system, vasculature, adipose and nervous systems that must occur in order for bone formation to proceed. Our goals are to develop both targeted inhibitors and imaging diagnostics against these early processes.
Phone: 713-798-1237
E-mail:
Elizabeth Olmsted-Davis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics - Hematology-Oncology Cell & Gene
My research interests are in the area of heterotopic ossification (HO) of bone formation at non-skeletal sites. Our laboratory extends this definition to include de novo bone formation which utilizes the processes of HO to form the bone. Thus we are attempting to harness this capacity to rapidly form bone at targeted locations for a variety of musculoskeletal problems including critical size defect, and spinal arthrodesis.
Phone: 713-798-1237
E-mail:
Lawrence A. Donehower, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology
Our laboratory studies p53 signaling, using genetically engineered mouse models. In particular, we are interested in the role of p53 and osteosarcoma formation and progression. We have developed and characterized a p53-deficient mouse osteosarcoma model to study genetic alterations and gene expression changes that might ultimately be exploited as therapeutic targets.
Phone: 713-798-3594
E-mail:
Kenneth Ellis, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Pediatrics-Nutrition
The Body Composition Laboratory at the CNRC provides measurements of bone mineral mass in pediatric populations from infancy through adolescence. DXA measurements in more than 1200 healthy children have been used to establish reference curves for bone, which provide a means of assessing the bone status of children with diseases that may affect bone growth.
Phone: 713-798-7131
E-mail:
Xin-Hua Feng, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Surgery
Our research is aimed at elucidating the underlying mechanisms and interplays among protein modifications, signaling networks and gene transcription. We are particularly interested in the BMP/TGFbeta signaling pathways and protein phosphatases involved in cell functions, tissue differentiation and pathogenesis of human diseases. One part of our recent research focuses on the in vivo functions of Smads and their phosphatases in skeletal development.
Phone: 713-798-4756
E-mail:
Kenneth Gabbay, M.D.
Professor, Departments of Pediatrics-Molecular Diabetes and Metabolism
Dr. Gabbay’s main research interests are the genetics of type I diabetes mellitus and its complications; the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis of diabetic complications and development of drugs to prevent such complications; and the genetic and molecular basis for beta cell growth, development, and maintenance. The goal is to cure and prevent type I diabetes mellitus and its complications. The current focus of his activities relates to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and more specifically, the role of diabetes and oxidative stress in its development.
Phone: 832-824-3764
E-mail:
Frank Gannon, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology
My research involves the earliest stages of bone formation with particular emphasis on the events prior to actual bone and cartilage formation. I work in conjunction with Drs. Alan and Betsy Davis in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and Dr. Michael Heggeness in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.
Phone: 713-794-7249
E-mail:
Michael H., Heggeness, M.D., Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
My research interests include the study of intraosseous nerves, and the biology of osteogenesis.
Phone: 713-986-5730
E-mail:
Brendan Lee, M.D., Ph.D. - Director
Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
We are interested in studying rare disorders of skeletal development to elucidate the common mechanisms that cause osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and bone cancer. Specifically, we have focused on transcription factors that regulate cell differentiation, growth factor signaling upstream of these factors, and downstream target matrix protein function.
Phone: 713-798-8835
E-mail:
Joel Morrisett, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dr. Morrisett's research interests focuses on the integrated investigation of the mechanism(s) of calcification and demineralization of the arterial wall using magnetic resonance imaging, cell culture, proteomics, and genomics.
Phone: 713-798-4164
E-mail:
Sandesh Sreenath Nagamani, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
My laboratory research involves translational research in urea cycle disorders, and nitric oxide signaling in diabetes, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis. My clinical research involves trials related to Urea cycle disorders and Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
Phone: 713-798-4523
E-mail:
Dobrawa Napierala, Ph.D.
Instructor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
My research is focused on transcriptional control of endochondral ossification. In particular, I am interested in studying the role of the Trps1 transcription factor in chondrocyte development. My research interests also include regulation of bone and dentin formation at the gene expression level.
Phone: 713-798-3548
E-mail:
Philip Noble, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Noble's diverse research interests include the biomechanics of human and artificial joints, the morphometry of human bones, the biology and biomechanics of cartilage, ligament fixation, computer graphics, virtual biomechanics, and the quantitative assessment of clinical outcomes
Phone: 713-986-5460
E-mail:
Steffi Oesterreich, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center
We are interested in the role of nuclear receptor coregulators in estrogen signaling. As part of this, we are studying whether genetic changes in estrogen receptor coregulators contribute to osteoporosis, and if so, what the underlying mechanism(s) are.
Phone: 713-798-1623
E-mail:
Yuxiang Sun, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics-Nutrition
Dr. Sun is investigating the role of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor in obesity and diabetes.
Phone: 713-798-9398
E-mail:
Vernon R. Sutton, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
Dr. Reid Sutton is a clinician with expertise in skeletal dysplasias and osteogenesis imperfecta. He is the Co-Director of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation's Linked Clinical Research Center and is a member of the International Skeletal Dysplasia Society.
Phone: 832-822-4296
E-mail:
Ming-Jer Tsai, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
My laboratory is studying the physiological function of COUP-TFs which are orphan members of the steroid/thyroid receptor superfamily. COUP-TFs are important for various diseases, such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), congenital heart defects (CHD), coloboma, kidney diseases, diabetes and cancers. It also plays a role in organogenesis and cell fate determination of the mesenchymal stem cells, which can develop into bone, muscle, fat or chondrocyte. We are currently dissecting their underlying mechanisms.
Phone: 713-798-6523
E-mail:
Lisa L. Wang, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics - Hematology & Oncology
Our lab is studying the role of the RECQL4 gene pathway in bone development and cancer (osteosarcoma) through study of a rare genetic disorder called Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. We are generating conditional knockout and transgenic recql4 mouse models in order to investigate the effects of RECQL4 in the skeletal system.
Phone: 832-824-4822
E-mail:
Shulin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. FACMG
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics
I received my Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics in Canada in 2001 and have conducted three years postdoctoral research in bone stem cell genetics. Currently I am interested in the molecular diagnosis of bone and skeletal diseases and genetic regulation of bone stem cells.
Phone: 713-798-2127
E-mail:
