St. Giles Research Chair The St. Giles Research Chair supports the research activities of Theresa Lu, MD, PhD, Senior Scientist in the Autoimmunity and In•ammation Program. Dr. Lu is one of only about 300 pediatric rheumatologists in the US and one of only a handful who conduct laboratory research. She heads the Immune Circuit in Disease Laboratory, where researchers are investigating how immune cells act on blood and lymph vessels and ÿbroblasts to regulate lymphoid tissue function in health and disease. Harnessing this understanding may help to better control the unwanted autoimmune responses in diseases such as lupus and in•ammatory arthritis. Dr. Lu’s work is also examining fat-derived stromal cells that could lead to better treatments for scleroderma, with potential implications for bone and cartilage disorders. Past recipient of the Anne Kennedy O’Neil Research Fellowship Award for studies of autoimmune conditions that primarily a–ect women, Dr. Lu is focused on providing new ways to treat and delay the progression of autoimmune diseases that a–ect both children and adults.
The Starr Chair in Mineralized Tissue Research is advancing research focused on furthering the understanding of bone composition and structure, with the goal of improving healing and health outcomes for countless patients a–ected by osteoporosis, arthritis, and joint implant loosening. Formerly held for over a decade by Adele Boskey, PhD, before her passing in 2017, the Chair currently supports the research e–orts of several HSS investigators whose present studies employ the Hospital’s Micro-Computed Tomography Core—capable of yielding high-resolution assessments of density, geometry, and microarchitecture of mineralized tissues, such as bones and teeth.
Starr Chair in Tissue Engineering Research Chitra Dahia, PhD, is an Assistant Scientist in the Tissue Engineering, Regeneration, and Repair Program at HSS. The Starr Chair in Tissue Engineering Research supports Dr. Dahia’s work, which is focused on better understanding, preventing, and treating degenerative disc disease, a major cause of lower back pain. Currently, Dr. Dahia is exploring the role major cell signaling pathways play in the growth, di–erentiation, and aging of the intervertebral disc. This research will enable Dr. Dahia to identify potential biological approaches that can improve treatment options for patients with degenerative disc disease, as well as prevent the disease from occurring.
Advancing the Frontiers of Medicine | 11
2019Ž 2020 EN D OW ED CHA IRS
Starr Chair in Mineralized Tissue Research