Translational Imaging and Biomechanics Core
Core overview: Translational Imaging and Biomechanics core is focused on bridging the basic science findings to clinical observations though imaging and biomechanical assessments to assist with studying the disease mechanism, biomarkers, and treatments for a range of skeletal disorders. The core offers a diverse range of services including:
1) Quantitative imaging to assess joint morphology and tissue structural properties
2) Experimental and computational evaluation of tissue mechanical properties
3) Clinical cohort identification (e.g., patients with certain musculoskeletal disorders) to build multi-center database of imaging, clinical and genomics data to help better interpret and validate the preclinical observations
Directed Differentiation Core Services
Core overview: Dr. Craft and her lab are available to discuss investigator-driven projects, experimental design, and provide hands-on training for generating working stocks of human iPSCs/ESCs and mouse PSCs, directed differentiations, deriving appropriate culture conditions and media compositions to support novel protocols, and troubleshooting existing protocols.
Arthritis model systems and analyses
Core overview: aims to address a need to support CSR musculoskeletal researchers to expand their studies from their original research toward the understanding of the mechanism of joint diseases, including osteoarthritis, osteoimmunology and joint structure pathology. The core directors will provide consultative services to CSR members to embark on a pilot project in these specific areas.
Translational Therapeutics Working Group
Core overview: The Translational Therapeutics Core will serve three main educational functions for the CSR community. First, we will work with CSR leadership to incorporate translational research topics into scientific programming for the annual CSR symposium and monthly Friday afternoon seminars. Second, we will provide ad hoc advice for CSR community members on emerging translational research projects in their laboratories. Given our respective areas of expertise, Jae Shim will provide advice for projects where macromolecules and gene therapy (RNAi, nanoparticle, AAV delivery) interventions are most appropriate, while Marc Wein will provide advice on small molecule, cell therapy, and CRISPR-based gene editing. Finally, if needed, we will help interested investigators identify appropriate institutional resources to assist with issues related to intellectual property and commercialization, and provide high-level advice regarding balancing ‘basic’ and ‘translational’ research activities within academic laboratories.
