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Whasil Lee, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Office: (585) 276-4631

Research Labs

Faculty Appointments

Biography

Research

The Lee Lab studies the mechanically activated ion channels expressed in knee joint cells to gain fundamental insights into mechanotransduction-related tissue development, maintenance, and degeneration. We investigate the mechanotransduction mechanisms of chondrocytes, synoviocytes, ligament cells, joint-innervating neurons and chondrogenic stem cells in both physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. Our overarching goal is to deconstruct the function of key mechanotransducing ion channels of musculoskeletal cells and to and apply this knowledge to find rational therapeutic drugs which can stop the progression of osteoarthritis, stop the arthritis associated pain and/or regenerate healthy cartilage.

Publications

Journal Articles

7/6/2022
Fraser D, Nguyen T, Kotelsky A, Lee W, Buckley M, Benoit DSW. "Hydrogel Swelling-Mediated Strain Induces Cell Alignment at Dentin Interfaces." ACS biomaterials science & engineering.. 2022 Jul 6; Epub 2022 Jul 06.

3/2022
Kotelsky A, Elahi A, Nejat Yigit C, Proctor A, Mannava S, Pröschel C, Lee W. "Effect of knee joint loading on chondrocyte mechano-vulnerability and severity of post-traumatic osteoarthritis induced by ACL-injury in mice." Osteoarthritis and cartilage open.. 2022 Mar; 4(1):100227. Epub 2021 Dec 15.

2022
Gao W, Hasan H, Anderson DE, Lee W. "The Role of Mechanically-Activated Ion Channels Piezo1, Piezo2, and TRPV4 in Chondrocyte Mechanotransduction and Mechano-Therapeutics for Osteoarthritis." Frontiers in cell and developmental biology.. 2022 10:885224. Epub 2022 May 04.

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