Research Interests

With an aging population, the demand for synthetic tissue scaffolds assisting the repair and reconstruction of musculoskeletal tissue defects resulting from trauma, aging, cancer and metabolic diseases is \rising. Our lab is interested in 1) developing new biomaterial- and stem cell-based approaches towards bone and cartilage tissue regeneration, particularly dealing with hard-to-heal tissue defects resulting from aging, diabetes, and traumatic injuries; 2) identifying novel factors regulating stem cell renewal and skeletal tissue regeneration; 3) identifying new targets for the development of disease modifying drugs of osteoarthritis; and 4) improving the osteointegration of and reducing periprosthetic infections associated with existing orthopedic metallic implants. Many of the synthetic scaffolds we designed are programmed with unique physical properties to facilitate facile surgical delivery (injectable formulations; minimally invasive in vivo deployment), tunable & predictive in vivo degradation profiles, and spatially controlled presentation and temporally controlled release of bioactive factors for regulating stem/progenitor cell fate within the tissue niche environment.

Biography

Recent Publications

For a list of Dr Song publications, follow this link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/browse/collection/40595708/?sort=date&direction=descending 

Potential Rotation Projects

1. Design and evaluation of smart synthetic bone / cartilage tissue grafts

2. Metallic implant surface modifications for reducing periprosthetic infections

3. New therapeutic targets for the development of disease modifying drugs of osteoarthritis

• 2018-2022  Standing member, NIH SBSR study section
• 2017  ALSF Innovation Grant award, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
• 2017  Bassick Family Foundation Award, Worcester Foundation/Hudson Hoagland Society
• 2015  J.R. Neff Award , Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
• 2014  Mel and Sandy Cutler Award, Worcester Foundation/Hudson Hoagland Society
• 2013  Dean’s Award for Research Mentoring and Commitment to Student Professional Advancement, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences/UMass Chan
• 2008  Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration (EUREKA) Award, National Institutes of Health
• 2008  Career Enhancement Award, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
• 2007  Harold M. Frost Young Investigator Award, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

Research Sponsors:

• National Institutes of Health (R01’s, R21, S10);
• Department of Defense (CDMRP);
• Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation;
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
• American Society for Bone and Mineral Research;
• Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation;
• Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center;
• Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research;
• BRIDGE Fund, UMass Chan
• Clinical and Translational Science Pilot Project Program, UMass Chan;
• Life Science Moment Fund, University of Massachusetts;
• Science & Technology Initiative Fund, University of Massachusetts;
• OTCV/CVIP, University of Massachusetts;
• ACS-IRG, UMass Chan;
• DERC, UMass Chan