Laboratory of Frank Ko, PhD

The research of Frank Ko, PhD, explores mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal homeostasis, diseases, and repair.  Understanding these mechanisms could lead to a development of novel therapeutic interventions to diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, or sarcopenia.

Dr. Frank Ko Lab Group

Dr. Frank Ko Lab Group (Zoe Herdman (left), Frank Ko, PhD (middle), and Hoomin Lee, PhD (right))

Our work

Ko’s lab at Rush has been studying how extrinsic (eg. diet, physical activity, injury) or intrinsic (eg. genetics) factors and their underlying mechanisms leading to alterations in the musculoskeletal tissue.  The recent effort focuses on examining the role of periostin expressing cells in intramembranous bone regeneration.  These cells, while normally restricted to the periosteal surface and absent in bone marrow, are present in the regenerating marrow cavity following marrow ablation surgery.  Understanding the periostin expressing cell lineage commitment and the underlying mechanisms during intramembranous bone regeneration could pave a way to enhance fracture healing or improve implant fixation.

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Grants

  • NIH K01AR077679 (PI): “Role of periostin expressing cells in intramembranous bone regeneration”
  • NIH K01AR077679 -supp (PI): “Role of periostin expressing cells in intramembranous bone regeneration”
  • NIH R01AR079179 (Co-Investigator (Rick Sumner, PI)): “Systems Genetics of Bone Regeneration”
  • NIH R21HD102026 (Co-Investigator (Rick Sumner, PI)): “Establishing a New Model of Bone Health in Formerly Premature Individuals”
  • NIH UC2AR082186 (Co-Investigator (Anne-Marie Malfait, PI)): “Mapping the joint-nerve interactome of the knee”
  • Searle Innovator Award (PI): “Examining periostin-integrin receptor signaling in intramembranous bone regeneration”

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Publications

A full list of Frank Ko’s research publications can be found on PubMed.

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Contact

Frank Ko, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Rush University Medical Center
1735 W. Harrison St.
Cohn Building, Suite 514
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 942-8294
Email: frank_ko@rush.edu

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