Project Mentor

Caroline Dealy
Orthopedic Surgery, Orthodontics, Biomedical Engineering and Cell Biology

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Description

Project Description	Individuals who experience traumatic injury to their knee cartilage are at high risk for rapid development of osteoarthritis that can lead to disability in as few as 10-15 years. Osteochondral Allografting is a clinical repair approach in which the damaged region is surgically removed and replaced with a plug of donor cartilage. This approach provides good short term outcomes but eventually all grafts fail and osteoarthritis can then set in. The grafts fail because they never fully integrate into the patients’ own cartilage. The goal of this project is to understand the cellular mechanisms of cartilage healing, and to develop a clinically feasible approach to stimulate healing so that grafts integrate fully after implantation and are retained longer, perhaps even permanently.
Project Direction	The summer project will involve tissue culture of human osteochondral tissue, treated with agents that we believe will promote healing of cartilage injury through activation of latent progenitor / stem cell activity by resident chondrocytes. Outcomes will be ongoing over the summer and beyond and will include histological and molecular examination of the cellular responses and gene transcripts that mediate regenerative healing; as well as measuring healing strength via mechanical testing, and additional assays to establish initial safety and feasibility of the use of the test agents as a component of a new, modified approach for clinical Osteochondral Allografting. The long term goal is to move the approach towards clinical trials and regulatory approval.
Mentorship and Supervision	Technical training will be provided by laboratory staff, graduate students and fellow students who have already gained experience in the procedures. Mentoring on day to day basis will come from the same, and also from Dr Dealy, augmented by individual and/or group meetings with Dr Dealy on a regular basis (1 -2 times per week “formally” and informally on an ongoing basis). Progress assessment and feedback will also be through these meetings and interactions.
Student Qualifications	The most important qualification is willingness to engage, to jump in with both feet and immerse fully. That applies to over the summer, and ideally beyond into other summer(s) and semesters for the long term, as an honors or similar undergraduate thesis project. Prior technical experience is not required as we will train you in whatever you need to know. Good communications skills and ability to work in a team environment is important. Enjoying reading is a plus (as reading relevant literature is part of research). No specific major is necessary.
Summer Schedule Options	Typical m-f hours with flexibility if needed for occasional long days
Project Continuation	Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Academic Year Time Commitment	6-9 hours/week
Possible Thesis Project	Yes

Application

Submit an online application for this research opportunity at https://quest.uconn.edu/prog/HRP24-42. The application deadline is Monday, January 29, 2024.

This application requires a Resume or CV, Unofficial Transcript, Statement of Qualifications, Statement of Research Interests, and Statement of Career Interests. References should be available upon request.