Research Overview

Bone Health

Bone fractures and osteoarthritis are two major causes of impairment among the elderly. Current methods of assessing risk are inadequate, particularly in individuals with diabetes. We aim to identify biomechanical, genetic, and proteomic changes reflective of earliest disease states to improve risk assessment.

Evolution of Tanning

Genome scans have identified a many genes selected for lighter or darker constitutive pigmentation in response to environmental pressures. The adaptive potential of tanned skin, particularly in the Americas, where constitutive pigmentation is lower than expected, may fill in an important gap in our understanding of the evolution of skin color.

Aging Omics

Age-related, chronic diseases represent the largest contributors to morbidity and mortality in developed countries. We apply integrated omics technologies to identify tissue-specific changes that differentiate healthy aging from bone and other metabolic diseases.