Dr. Sandell’s laboratory focuses on gene regulation of extracellular matrix proteins and its influence on the phenotype of cells. Of particular interest is the role of transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms of regulation of protein expression in the differentiation of mesenchymal cell phenotypes such as cartilage, bone, muscle and adipose.  The Sandell laboratory has also had a long-standing interest in cellular mechanisms associated with chondrogenesis and endochondral bone formation and the discovery of new related extracellular matrix proteins and the interplay of positive and negative factors that regulate their expression.  These anabolic and catabolic control mechanisms are of direct concern to the current understanding of the major cartilage disease, osteoarthritis.  Arising from our interest in cartilage, recent studies have focused on understanding the molecular basis of inhibition of angiogenesis and tumors invasion in cartilage and the application of these findings to cancer and other diseases where neo-vascularization must be inhibited.

Mildred B Simon Research Professorship awarded to Dr. Sandell (Link)