We are developing new "bio-markers" to diagnose arthritis at early stages. Very often when patients feel joint pain and are diagnosed by X-ray, the joint cartilage is beyond repair and has to be replaced by artificial joint. Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in America. In the second area, the laboratory is focusing on how to improve early diagnosis and joint repair during arthritis. We discovered important biochemical molecules in the joint that mediate mechanical stimulation of bone formation. This exciting research project is supported by National Institute of Health. If we understand the underlying mechanism, we can apply our knowledge to improving joint health in daily life and accelerate bone repair and rehabilitation after fracture. For example, regular exercise that exerts appropriate loading to the joint enhances bone mass, while too little loading (such as what astronauts experience in outer space under zero gravity) or too much loading (such as what occurs during sports injuries) damages or diminishes bone formation. People have known that mechanical stress plays an important part in maintaining bone health. In one area, we are studying how mechanical stress regulates bone growth and regeneration. The research focus in our laboratory is skeletal development, fracture healing, and cartilage & bone repair. He is the editor of the books “Osteoarthritis: Diagnosis, Treatment and Surgery” and "Osteoarthritis: Progress in Basic Research and Treatment". He served as the Basic Science Section Editor of the journal Current Opinions in Orthopaedics, and the topic Chair of Cartilage, Synovium, and Meniscus for the annual meetings of the Orthopaedic Research Society. Chen served on multiple NIH study sections and advisory panels, and on the review board of Veteran’s Administration. Chen’s research career, he received the Independent Scientist Award from NIH, the Satterfield Arthritis Investigator Award from Arthritis Foundation, and the Kappa Delta Award from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Chen’s research interest includes cartilage molecular biology, aging and development, extracellular matrix, epigenetics and RNAi, mechanotransduction, osteoarthritis, nanomedicine and gene therapy. Chen received his PhD degree in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, and performed Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. ![]() He is the director of Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Skeletal Health and Repair in Rhode Island Hospital, a multi-disciplinary translational research center established by National Institute of Health.ĭr. Ehrlich, MD Endowed Chair in Orthopaedic Research, Professor of Medical Science, and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Orthopaedics at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
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