One of the main projects in our lab is to investigate musculoskeletal assembly, that is, the creation of physical attachments between components of the system. We focus mainly on the attachment of tendon to bone. Known as enthesis, this weak point of the musculoskeletal system that is vulnerable to various prevalent pathologies and injuries, including of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and rotator cuff. These injuries are common among young people, particularly those who practice sports. Yet, enthesopathies may also accompany aging-associated diseases such as arthritis.
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To uncover the mechanisms involved in the development and function of the unique transitional tissue of the enthesis, as well as in its pathology and aging, we integrate developmental and regenerative studies. We develop designated experimental system and tools combining state-of-the-art methods such as CRISPR/Cas9, single-cell analysis, proteomics and transcriptomics.