Shuanhu (Joe) Zhou, PhDBACK

Instructor, Brigham and Women's Hospital

The Effects of Niche on Mesenchymal Stem Cells During Human Skeletal Aging

Bone fractures are a major source of disability among the elderly. Bone is a living tissue which deteriorates with aging due to an imbalance between the activity of cells that continuously produce new bone and cells which reabsorb old bone. Cells which produce new bone are produced by a type of recently discovered adult stem cell. Dr. Zhou's research will investigate how the aging cellular environment of these stem cells may contribute to their declining ability to produce new bone-producing cells. This information could be important in developing methods for keeping adult stem cells healthy longer which in turn could keep our bones healthy longer.