Arthritis & Degenerative Disease

Arthritis & Degenerative Disease

J. Kent Leach, Ph.D.

(see also: Orthopedics/Biomedical Engineering, Osteoimmunology)

Research in the Leach laboratory is primarily in the broad area of TISSUE ENGINEERING. Within our research program, we seek to engineer functional replacement and temporary bridge tissues while also developing model systems to study physiological and pathophysiological tissue formation. We initially develop many of our projects with an eye toward bone tissue engineering, and these findings are subsequently applied to other areas of tissue repair including cartilage and cardiovascular engineering, as well as wound healing.

All projects in the lab are linked by the hypothesis that combinatorial approaches to tissue formation are superior to individual stimulation. More specifically, successful tissue engineering approaches will be realized upon the proper spatial and temporal presentation of cells, signaling molecules, biomaterials, and mechanical stimulation.

STAR students will participate in projects involving tissue engineering of cartilage and bone, as well as testing immunological response/contribution to tissue formation in vivo.

Website: http://bme.ucdavis.edu/leachlab/

To contact Dr. Leach, please email jkleach@ucdavis.edu.