Anatomy and Cell Biology
Mentor Name: Lynda Bonewald
- Internship Location:
-
Medicine
- Pre Professional Interests Preferred:
-
Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine
- Environment:
-
Lab
- Dress Code:
- Lab-safe clothing
- Website:
- https://anatomy.medicine.iu.edu/people/faculty/primary-faculty/bonewald-lynda-phd/
- Majors Preferred:
-
Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Exercise Science, Health Sciences
- Hours per week:
- 10
- Schedule:
- Flexible within regular work hours
- Summary:
- Our lab investigates how osteocytes, a specific type of bone cell, regulate musculoskeletal health. Bone comprises three main types of cells: osteoclasts, which remove old or damaged bone; osteoblasts, which form new bone matrix; and osteocytes, which are embedded within the bone matrix and direct the functions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. We have recently discovered that, under certain conditions, osteocytes can resorb bone in a similar manner to osteoclasts using a process termed "osteocytic osteolysis." Our lab is studying the mechanisms of osteocytic osteolysis and the importance of this process during physiological conditions such as lactation. We are also investigating how this process is disrupted in pathological conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, where excessive bone resorption leads to loss of bone mass and strength and increased risk of fracture. Our goal is to discover therapeutic targets to prevent excessive osteocytic osteolysis in these conditions.
- Internship Duties:
- Counting cells, analyzing data, graphing data, and learning cell culture, as well as some histology, etc.
