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Ana Chee, PhD

Assistant Professor
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, RUSH Medical College
Education

B.S. University of California, Los Angeles
Ph.D. University of Chicago

Research Areas

Biological repair and regeneration of the intervertebral disc; Anti-inflammatory therapies for discogenic back pain; Cell therapies for disc degenerative disease and associated disorders; Peripherally restricted non-addictive opioid treatments for chronic back pain.

Links:
Biography

Ana Chee, Ph.D., is a molecular biologist with extensive experience in understanding the complexities of molecular and cellular mechanisms in inflammatory systems. Chee is interested in using her expertise in molecular biology and animal models to study back pain. By understanding the mechanisms of back pain, she hopes to design and test biological therapies that would help combat the sources of these diseases at the molecular level.

Chee graduated from University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. She continued her studies at the University of Chicago where she received a Ph.D. in Genetics studying the molecular interactions between viruses and the host immune response. After joining Rush University Medical Center in 2009, Dr. Chee has focused her work in translational medicine where she has helped lead and coordinate tissue culture and animal research projects with the Spine Research Group.

Chee has served or is currently serving as a Co-Investigator or Principal Investigator in studies sponsored by AO Foundation, Aircast Foundation, Baxter, Cervical Spine Research Society, North American Spine Society, Pritzker Foundation, RTI Surgical, and Spinalcyte, LLC.

Publications

Dr. Chee’s complete publication list.

1. Liu W, Liu D, Zheng J, Shi P, Chou PH, Oh C, Chen D, An HS, Chee A. Annulus fibrosus cells express and utilize C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) for migration. Spine Journal. 17:720-726. 2017

2. Chee A, Shi P, Cha T, Kao TH, Yang SH, Zhu J, Chen D, Zhang Y, An HS. Cell Therapy with Human Dermal Fibroblasts Enhances Intervertebral Disk Repair and Decreases Inflammation in the Rabbit Model. Global Spine Journal. 6:771-779. 2016

3. Zhang Y, Chee A, Shi P, Adams SL, Markova DZ, Anderson DG, Smith HE, Deng Y, Plastaras CT, An HS. Intervertebral disc cells produce interleukins found in patients with back pain. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 95:407-15. 2016

4. Zhang Y, Chee A, Shi P, Wang R, Moss I, Chen EY, He TC, An HS. Allogeneic articular chondrocyte transplantation downregulates interleukin 8 gene expression in the degenerating rabbit intervertebral disk in vivo. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 94:530-8. 2015

5. Chee AV, Ren J, Lenart BA, Chen EY, Zhang Y, An HS. Cytotoxicity of local anesthetics and nonionic contrast agents on bovine intervertebral disc cells cultured in a three-dimensional culture system. Spine Journal. 14:491-8. 2014