CONTACT INFORMATIONBIOGRAPHYCREDENTIALSAWARDSPUBLICATIONSChike Cao, Ph.D.Contact InformationResearch LabsVisit Lab WebsiteLocationsUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterSchool of Medicine and Dentistry601 Elmwood Ave, Box 665Rochester, NY 14642Faculty AppointmentsAssistant Professor - Department of Orthopaedics , Center for Musculoskeletal Research (SMD) Assistant Professor - Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (SMD) - JointBiographyProfessional BackgroundDr. Chike Cao joined the Center for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Othoepadics at University of Rochester Medical Center in September of 2020. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biological Education from Huazhong Normal University in China. She received her Master’s degree at University of Arkansas in Dr. Michael Lehmann’s laboratory studying program cell death in Drosophila. She obtained her doctoral degree at New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University in Dr. Tibor Rohacs’s lab focusing on TRP Ca2+ channel regulation. Dr. Cao worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Mayo Clinic under the mentorship of Dr. Gianrico Farrugia studying Ano1 chloride channel in ICCs and Duke University under the mentorship of Dr. Geoffrey Pitt and Dr. Matthew Hilton investigating CaV1.2 L-type Ca2+ channel for bone formation. She then joined the faculty as an instructor in Dr. Geoffrey Pitt’s lab at Weill Cornell Medicine, collaborating with Dr. Christopher Mendias and Dr. Scott Rodeo to study the function of CaV1.2 in tendon formation.ResearchDr. Cao’s research focuses on understanding the physiological and pathophysiological contribution of CaV1.2 Ca2+ channel, its activation mechanisms and the molecular basis of Ca2+-dependent cellular processes during non-excitable musculoskeletal tissue (such as bone and tendon) development, postnatal growth and their repair/regeneration upon injury. The long-term goal of her research program aims to translate their findings related to Ca2+ channel and Ca2+ signaling in basic bone and tendon biology to clinical trials in patients to help prevent and treat musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, tendinopathies, and heterotopic ossification in soft tissues. Her approach utilizes genetic mouse models, primary cell culture systems, pharmacological approaches, next-generation sequencing techniques, multiphoton Ca2+ imaging to define the molecular mechanisms and signaling cascades up/downstream of CaV1.2 in bone and tendon formation.Awards2020NIH NIAMS R21Sponsor: National Institutes of Health2019Alice L. Jee Young Investigator AwardSponsor: ORS Musculoskeletal Biology Workshop at Sun Valley2017Harold M. Frost Young Investigator AwardSponsor: ORS Musculoskeletal Biology Workshop at Sun Valley2016 - 2017Travel AwardSponsor: American Society of Bone and Mineral ResearchVIEW ALL expand_morePublicationsJournal Articles10/26/2020Pitt GS, Matsui M, Cao C. "Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Nonexcitable Tissues." Annual review of physiology.. 2020 Oct 26; Epub 2020 Oct 26. 8/2019Cao C, Oswald AB, Fabella BA, Ren Y, Rodriguiz R, Trainor G, Greenblatt MB, Hilton MJ, Pitt GS. "The Ca1.2 L-type calcium channel regulates bone homeostasis in the middle and inner ear." Bone.. 2019 Aug; 125:160-168. Epub 2019 May 20. 11/16/2017Cao C, Ren Y, Barnett AS, Mirando AJ, Rouse D, Mun SH, Park-Min KH, McNulty AL, Guilak F, Karner CM, Hilton MJ, Pitt GS. "Increased Ca2+ signaling through CaV1.2 promotes bone formation and prevents estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss." JCI insight.. 2017 Nov 16; 2(22)Epub 2017 Nov 16. VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONSClose WindowSchedule an appointment with Chike Cao, Ph.D.Please answer the following questions to help us find the right appointment for you.Important: If you believe that you have a medical or psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. This website is not intended for emergency care.Have you seen this provider in the last 2 years?YesNoExisting Patient Schedule or request a follow up appointment online through MyChart. If you do not have a MyChart account, please close this window and call the appointment phone number. Chike Cao, Ph.D. is currently scheduling for the following appointment type(s): Our policy does not permit patients to establish care with multiple providers within the same practice or specialty without prior approval. If you choose a new provider in the same office, we will cancel the appointment. Please contact the office directly with questions on this policy.