Robert Colbert, M.D., Ph.D., Amy Petrik, Ph.D., and Grace Kwon, Ph.D. Examine Skin Fibroblasts under a Microscope
Dr. Robert Colbert trains Dr. Amy Petrik (Post-Doctoral Student) and Dr. Grace Kwon (Post-Doctoral Student) in the lab. They are examining skin fibroblasts under a microscope. Skin fibroblasts are reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which can then be differentiated into bone forming cells. These are used to study how specific genetic variants associated with susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis, help cause spinal ankylosis. The PTRB researches spondyloarthritis and related disorders—including ankylosing spondylitis—particularly with childhood onset. Dr. Robert Colbert is developing a research program to characterize the mechanisms responsible for initiating and promoting inflammation and dysregulated bone formation in these disorders. These studies will build on recent advances in our understanding of the genetics of ankylosing spondylitis, including the role of the immune system in mediating inflammation.
Credit: Photographer: Bill Branson, NIH Medical Arts, National Institutes of Health
Robert Colbert, M.D., Ph.D., Amy Petrik, Ph.D., and Grace Kwon, Ph.D. Examine Skin Fibroblasts under a Microscope
Dr. Robert Colbert trains Dr. Amy Petrik (Post-Doctoral Student) and Dr. Grace Kwon (Post-Doctoral Student) in the lab. They are examining skin fibroblasts under a microscope. Skin fibroblasts are reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which can then be differentiated into bone forming cells. These are used to study how specific genetic variants associated with susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis, help cause spinal ankylosis. The PTRB researches spondyloarthritis and related disorders—including ankylosing spondylitis—particularly with childhood onset. Dr. Robert Colbert is developing a research program to characterize the mechanisms responsible for initiating and promoting inflammation and dysregulated bone formation in these disorders. These studies will build on recent advances in our understanding of the genetics of ankylosing spondylitis, including the role of the immune system in mediating inflammation.
Credit: Photographer: Bill Branson, NIH Medical Arts, National Institutes of Health