Faculty

Director

Dept. of Surgical and Radiological Science

Dr. Reesink’s research investigates the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, with a special emphasis on post-traumatic osteoarthritis in horses, dogs, and humans. Her clinical interests include equine surgery and lameness, with research interests in joint disease, fracture, and tendon injuries. The lab seeks to advance ‘One Health’ therapeutic design and interventional strategies aimed at restoring musculoskeletal health, improving comfort, and enhancing mobility in both veterinary patients and humans.

Executive Committee

Dept. of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology

Dr. Genetos’s research focuses upon the mechanisms whereby bone cells respond to biophysical signals present during skeletal development, repair, and daily activity.  Using both in vitro models for mechanical loading and in vivo transgenic or knockout mouse models, current research focuses include 1) the interaction of mechanical and chemical signals upon skeletal homeostasis;  2) diseases involving the skeletal system, including ectopic calcification within the vasculature, or mechanisms of prostate cancer osteosclerosis.

Executive Committee

Dept. of Surgical and Radiological Science

Dr. Marcellin-Little is professor of small animal orthopedic surgery. His research covers developmental orthopedic diseases, total joint replacement, and the use of digital manufacturing (modeling and 3D printing) to study and manage orthopedic problems.

Dept. of Surgical and Radiological Sciences

Dr. Boaz Arzi is a Professor and Chief of Dentistry and Oral surgery at the department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.  Dr. Arzi completed the residency-training program in dentistry and oral surgery at the School of Veterinary Medicine and two years fellowship in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UC Davis. He is a Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) and the European Veterinary Dental College (EVDC). Dr. Arzi is also a Founding Fellow of the AVDC in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Arzi’s clinical and research focus is on oral maxillofacial disorders and regenerative solutions in dogs and cats. His lab also investigates TMJ disorders and treatments across species. Dr. Arzi is the Director of the Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures (VIRC) at UC Davis. Ultimately, Dr. Arzi’s work is translational with the aim of One Health treatment modalities for both human and animal health.  

Contact: [email protected]

Dept. of Surgical and Radiological Science

Dr. Filliquist clinical expertise is in small animal orthopedic surgery with special interest in traumatology, fracture repair, and joint disease. Her research emphasis is on biomechanics of implants, immunologic reaction to metal implants, and treatment of joint disease. 

Dept. of Surgical and Radiological Sciences

Dr. Kapatkin's expertise is small animal orthopedic surgery.  Her research interests are in kinetics (the force of motion) and kinematics (the motion of joints), which give an objective measure of how a patient is progressing after treatment or surgery and evidence-based medicine.

Dept. of Surgical and Radiological Sciences

Dr. Lu’s clinical expertise includes total joint replacement, fracture repair, and limb deformity correction. He uses 3D computer-assisted surgical planning and patient-specific surgical guides to improve surgical precision and clinical outcomes. His research focuses on joint biomechanics, range of motion, and kinematics, and the performance of total joint replacement implants. His broader research interests include bone health and gait analysis in dogs and cats.

Dept. of Medicine and Epidemiology

The core objective of Dr.Morgan’s research is to facilitate the early detection and treatment of performance limiting issues in the equine athlete. Her expertise in equine performance includes a multisystem approach of evaluating performance limiting factors related to the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and the respiratory systems. This clinical interest is actively expanding into her performance horse research and she is currently collecting data to evaluate heart rate variability in horses with gastric ulceration. 

Dept. of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology

Dr. Vapniarsky's research is in regenerative medicine with a special focus on cartilage regeneration using novel tissue-engineering strategies. The spectrum of cartilages we are designing includes articular cartilage, fibrocartilage, and temporomandibular joint cartilage. Additionally, Dr. Vapniarsky is studying the immunological interface between the implant and the recipient. The team is designing strategies that facilitate successful long-term integration and functionality of the implant in the musculoskeletal settings.  Lastly, Dr. Vapniarsky's laboratory is also working on adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases in the maxillofacial compartment. Specifically, using nano-formulations, our team is attempting to improve and enhance the immunomodulatory efficacy of allogeneic MSCs.

Contact: [email protected]

Dept. of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology

Dr. Yellowley’s research is focused on the regulatory role of the bone microenvironment on both cell fate and function. In particular we are interested in the influence of the mechanical environment and environmental oxygen availability on skeletal cells. Ongoing studies include 1) the role of Angiopoietin-like 4 in bone development and fracture healing and 2) defining the role of HIF-alpha-dependent functions of Vhl in osteocytes that drive acquisition of a high bone mass phenotype in mice. Broadly the techniques we employ include fluorescence imaging, cell and molecular biology techniques, histology, microCT and biomechanical testing (biomechanics in collaboration with Dr. Christiansen). Our skeletal models include a variety of cultured primary bone cells and cell lines, small animal fracture models and transgenic mice.