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The Kamal Lab research focuses on studying chondrocytes in (1) musculoskeletal development and (2) disease. Our research aims at discovering key cellular pathways that regulate osteoarthritis development and progression, thus enabling us to develop new and effective therapies. We investigate different aspects of osteoarthritis disease process, encompassing pain, inflammation, cartilage degeneration, and subchondral bone changes. In our studies, we utilize a combination of in vivo and in vitro techniques, with sophisticated transgenic animal models.

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating disease with no disease-modifying treatment available. Osteoarthritis is characterized by continuous and progressive cartilage loss leading to joint dysfunction. Chondrocyte, the functional cell of cartilage controls cartilage homeostasis by secreting cartilage matrix components and matrix degrading enzymes. In osteoarthritis, the chondrocyte acquires an aberrant phenotype, it differentiates to become hypertrophic and secretes higher levels of matrix degrading enzymes, ultimately leading to cartilage matrix degradation and cartilage loss.

The Kamal lab’s research focuses on discovering new pathways and drugs that target these disease pathways, and control chondrocyte behavior to delay or even reverse osteoarthritis disease process.