Focusing on developing patient-specific interventions, these investigators are working to treat patients sustaining musculoskeletal injuries, specifically injuries that result in acute and chronic musculoskeletal disease. These treatment goals include acute interventions, regenerative interventions for both bone and muscle, and eventually identifying the optimal means of rehabilitation for the patient to resume a normal lifestyle.
Team Leaders
Dr. Kacena is the Director for Basic and Translational Research and a Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at IU School of Medicine. Her laboratory’s overall research goal is to improve the understanding of the interaction of the bone and hematopoietic systems, thereby potentially improving the treatment of metabolic bone disease, hematopoietic disorders, and fracture healing. In collaboration with NASA and the US Army Center for Environmental Health Research, Dr. Kacena has been investigating the impacts of spaceflight and drug therapies on bone healing (launched February 19, 2017 on SpaceX-10) and osteoblast function (launched July 25, 2019). Dr. Kacena’s laboratory has been funded since 2007 by the National Institute for Health, the Department of Defense, the US Army, the Veteran’s Affairs, and several foundations. In 2017, the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research recognized Dr. Kacena’s scientific contributions to the bone and mineral field by presenting her with the esteemed Fuller Albright Award.
Indiana University School of Medicine Investigators
Tarah J. Ballinger, MD
Vera Bradley Foundation Scholar in Breast Cancer Research
Angela Bruzzaniti, PhD
Director, PhD Training Program and Research Development, School of Dentistry
Joshua S. Everhart, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery
Jill C. Fehrenbacher, PhD
Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Edward F. Srour, PhD, MS
Robert J. and Annie S. Rohn Professor Emeritus of Leukemia Research
Diane Wagner, PhD
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, School of Science
Stuart J. Warden, PhD
Professor of Physical Therapy, School of Health & Human Sciences
Steven S. Welc, PhD
Assistant Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiology
Carol A. Witczak, PhD
Associate Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology
Hiroki Yokota, PhD
Professor of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering & Technology
Indiana University Members - Other Schools
Thomas Fisher, PhD
Dean Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences
Alexandru Movila, PhD
Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Comprehensive Care
Purdue University Members
Terry Loghmani, PhD
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Niki Munk, PhD, LMT
Interim Chair; Associate Professor of Health Sciences
Deva Chan, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Julie Liu, PhD
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
Russell Main, PhD
Associate Professor, Basic Medical Sciences
Dianne Little, PhD
Assistant Professor of Basic Medical Sciences
Philip Low, PhD
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
Sarah Malek, DVM, PhD
Assistant Professor, Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery
Marion University Members
Jonathan Lowery, PhD
Associate Professor of Physiology