Andrea Clark

• Human Health and Nutritional Sciences

• Exercise science and biomechanics
• Human health
• Mechanisms of disease

• Arthritis
• Healthy aging
• Protein structure and biochemistry

The research conducted in my lab seeks to:
1) Investigate the molecular underpinnings of osteoarthritis in order to identify novel therapeutic targets to treat this debilitating disease
2) Investigate how cartilage cells detect and respond to mechanical and chemical changes in their environment

More than 4 million Canadians have arthritis and the number of people living with arthritis continues to increase year after year. Osteoarthritis involves multiple tissues and often includes cartilage damage, bone sclerosis and synovial inflammation. A pressing need remains for joint localized therapies and interventions that could slow or ideally stop this debilitating disease.
In our research, we use genetic and surgical models of spontaneous osteoarthritis (with old age) and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (following injury). We follow the progression of disease in a joint in order to better understand how proteins such as TRPV4, integrin alpha1beta1 and cilia influence chondrocyte signal transduction and thus the development of osteoarthritis.

In our research, we use genetic and surgical models of spontaneous osteoarthritis (with old age) and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (following injury). We harness confocal microscopy, histology, immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and micro-computed tomography technologies to follow the progression of osteoarthritis in a joint and to bring to light the mechanisms by which proteins and cilia can influence chondrocyte signal transduction and thus the development of osteoarthritis. Through our studies of chondrocyte signal transduction and osteoarthritis we hope to identify novel approaches for improved treatments of this disease that will relieve the suffering of Canadians living with osteoarthritis.

Automated Tissue Processor Leica TP1020, Embedding Station HistoCore Arcadia, 2x Microtome Leica RM2255 , Autostainer Leica XL ST5010, Automated Coverslipper Leica CV 5030, Dissecting Microscope Leica M60 with Infinity 1 camera, Light Microscope Nikon Eclipse E400 with camera, Osmometer Advanced Instruments Model 3250.

Vanderbilt University (USA)

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