Professor Paul Genever

Research
Teaching and scholarship

Repair and Regeneration of Skeletal Tissues

Our research focuses on the cell and molecular biology of skeletal tissues. Bone is a highly dynamic tissue and is constantly being renewed or remodelled. At any one time in an adult skeleton, there are approximately 1 million microscopic remodelling sites that allow our skeletons to function and adapt to change. Bone marrow acts as a reservoir for stem cells that give rise to mature cells involved in remodelling and regeneration. However, our skeletons suffer a barrage of disease conditions, many of which are associated with the ageing process, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. These disorders are highly prevalent and their frequency will continue to rise as the population ages.

We are interested in identifying fundamental signalling mechanisms that are involved in lineage specification and how functional tissues (primarily bone and cartilage) are formed. We are currently investigating signalling pathways in mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and how molecular modification of these cellular events can influence differentiated function. We are also performing comparative analyses of different stem cell populations, using three-dimensional growth microenvironments and applying these technologies to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

Professor Paul Genever

Research

Teaching and scholarship

Contact details