The research of Frank Ko, PhD, explores mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal homeostasis, diseases, and repair. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to a development of novel therapeutic interventions to diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, or sarcopenia.
Ko’s lab at Rush has been studying how extrinsic (eg. diet, physical activity, injury) or intrinsic (eg. genetics) factors and their underlying mechanisms leading to alterations in the musculoskeletal tissue. The recent effort focuses on examining the role of periostin expressing cells in intramembranous bone regeneration. These cells, while normally restricted to the periosteal surface and absent in bone marrow, are present in the regenerating marrow cavity following marrow ablation surgery. Understanding the periostin expressing cell lineage commitment and the underlying mechanisms during intramembranous bone regeneration could pave a way to enhance fracture healing or improve implant fixation.
A full list of Frank Ko’s research publications can be found on PubMed.
Frank Ko, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
Rush University Medical Center
1735 W. Harrison St.
Cohn Building, Suite 514
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 942-8294
Email: frank_ko@rush.edu