Frank Beier
Affiliations
Scientist, Division of Genetics and Development, Children’s Health Research Institute
Professor, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry,
Western University
Director, Collaborative Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Western University
How my research helps children
There are many different bone diseases that affect children. Some of these diseases are inherited, while others occur as a result of injuries, poor diet or specific medications. As a result of these diseases, patients might grow much slower than other children, or have a higher likelihood to break their bones, or suffer from specific deformities of their bones and joints that restrict movement. Most of our bones are formed as a cartilage model first, and this cartilage model also controls how fast our bones grow. Therefore, many bone diseases are actually due to problems that start in cartilage. My research group tries to understand the mechanisms that control the normal behavior of cartilage and how these mechanisms are changed in different diseases. By understanding these processes, we will be able to prevent and treat many types of bone and cartilage diseases affecting children.
Research
Current Research Activities
We are studying a number of signaling pathways controlling skeletal growth and development. These include:
- Rho GTPases
- Various kinases including PI3K/Akt, MAP and GSK3
- Nuclear receptors such as the glucocorticoid receptor and RORalpha
In addition to these projects on skeletal development, we are also investigating molecular mechanisms mediating the destruction of joint cartilage in osteoarthritis, using surgical models in rats and mice in conjunction with genetic techniques and manipulations.
Research Team
I currently supervise or co-supervise two technicians, three postdoctoral fellows, ten graduate and four undergraduate students. Alumni from our lab have gone on to faculty positions and/or postdoctoral studies, or have entered Medical, Dental or Law School.
Future Research Plans
We will continue work on all the areas described above. In addition, we have recently started collaborating with Dr. Nathalie Bérubé on epigenetic regulators of skeletal development, a new project that forms an important part of our future plans.
Awards & Grants
Awards & Grants
Funding in support of Glucocorticoid receptor and RORalpha in cartilage development and osteoarthritis – Awarded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Funding in support of TGF Alpha/EGFR Signaling in Osteoarthritis – Awarded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Funding in support of Control of skeletal development by the chromatin remodeling protein ATRX – Awarded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), with Dr. Nathalie Bérubé, Western University
Funding in support of Regulation of chondrocytes by extracellular matrix proteins – Awarded by National Institutes of Health, USA, with Dr. Steven Abramson, New York University
Funding in support of Rac1 function in endochondral ossification – Awarded by CIHR
Recent Publications
Publications
The critical role of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in endochondral ossification
Zhang X, Siclari VA, Lan S, Zhu J, Koyama E, Dupuis HL, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Beier F, Qin L
J Bone Miner Res. 2011; 26, 2622-2633
Cartilage biology in osteoarthritis - lessons from developmental biology
Pitsillides AA, Beier F
Nature Reviews Rheumatology. 2011; 7, 654-663
iNos and nitric oxide mediate mitogenic Rac1 signaling during endochondral bone development
Wang G, Yan Q, Woods A, Aubrey LA, Feng Q, Beier F
J Cell Science. 2011; 124, 3405-3413
New insights in the pathobiology of cartilage degeneration: Implications for therapeutic interventions in osteoarthritis
LeBlanc EA, Beier F
US Musculoskeletal Review. 2011; 6, 16-19
Deletion of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3{beta} in Cartilage Results in Up-Regulation of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3{alpha} Protein Expression
Gillespie JR, Ulici V, Dupuis H, Higgs A, DiMattia A, Patel S, Woodgett JR, Beier F
Endocrinology. 2011; 152, 1755-1766
Rac1 activitation induces tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression and cardiac dysfunction in endotoxemia
Zhang T, Lu X, Beier F, Feng Q
J Cell Mol Medicine. 2011; 15, 1109-1121
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase deficiency results in reduced chondrocyte proliferation and endochondral bone growth
Yan Q, Feng Q, Beier F
Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Mar 30. [Epub ahead of print]
PPARgamma2 expression in growth plate chondrocytes is regulated by p38 and GSK-3
Stanton LA, Li JR, Beier F
J Cell Mol Med. 2010 Jan;14(1-2):242-56.
Human stanniocalcin-1 or -2 expressed in mice reduces bone size and severely inhibits cranial intramembranous bone growth
Johnston J, Ramos-Valdes Y, Stanton LA, Ladhani S, Beier F, Dimattia GE
Transgenic Res. 2010 Feb 20.
Regulation of gene expression by PI3K in mouse growth plate chondrocytes
Ulici V, James CG, Hoenselaar KD, Beier F
PLoS One. 2010 Jan 25;5(1):e8866
Genome-wide analyses of gene expression during mouse endochondral ossification
James CG, Stanton LA, Agoston H, Ulici V, Underhill TM, Beier F
PLoS One. 2010 Jan 13;5(1):e8693.
Rho/ROCK and MEK/ERK activation by transforming growth factor-alpha induces articular cartilage degradation
Appleton CT, Usmani SE, Mort JS, Beier F
Lab Invest. 2010 Jan;90(1):20-30.
Additional publications
Contact
Phone: 519-661-2111 x 85344
Fax: 519-661-3827
Email: fbeier [at] uwo [dot] ca
Website: http://www.med.uwo.ca/research/skeletal-web/Beier/index.htm
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