Lab Members

Juliane Glaeser, PhD, is a cell and molecular biologist with an extensive background in musculoskeletal research, as well as mesenchymal stem cell and matrix metalloprotease research. She has more than seven years of experience in the design, implementation and optimization of novel assays in mammalian cell culture and molecular biology, which includes the use of bioreactor systems. Glaeser identified mechanically regulated matrix metalloproteases in mesenchymal stem cells resulting in the stimulation of stem cell function and angiogenesis. She co-developed a medical device prototype for an intra-operative prediction of bone healing efficacy, which included the establishment and maintenance of a tissue bank for human fracture hematoma and testing of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in these tissues. Just recently, she obtained a certificate in Clinical Trials: Medical Device and Drug Development at University of California, Irvine.

Khosrowdad "Koz" Salehi, BS, has 13 years of laboratory experience in the field of molecular genetics, immunology and microbiology. He has extensive knowledge of the performance of real time polymerase chain reaction, electrophoresis and protein biochemistry. Furthermore, he is well-versed in cell culture techniques with primary cells and cell lines.

Linda “Lea” Kanim is a statistician with more than 25 years of research experience in translational and clinical trial studies for spinal tissue engineering. She has a strong expertise in designing and performing various spinal surgical procedures in animal models that mimic those performed in human surgery. These models are used to further investigate healing after fusion and fracture repair, and to study demineralized bone matrix-based grafting materials, cell-based grafting, biomaterials, and molecules for tissue engineering of disc and bone cell biology.