Experimentation focuses on assessing the effects of joint injury, repair, and rehabilitation to promote more effective treatments and improved outcomes.
Mechanobiology
Our goal is to better understand the biochemical processes that occur with loading to inform future motion-based therapies to facilitate healing of intervertebral discs.
Gene and Cell Based Therapy
Gene and cell based therapies have the potential to address the imbalance between catabolism and anabolism that occurs in disc tissue.
Biomarker Discovery
New avenues of research include utilizing serum-based biomarkers in conjunction with imaging biomarkers to predict individual responses to treatments.
Biology of Disc Degeneration
Our research projects focus on investigating at the molecular and cellular levels how aging and tobacco smoking contribute to the loss of disc matrix.
People
The Lab is made up of a team of dedicated faculty, staff, and trainees.
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Our Mission Statement
The mission of the Ferguson laboratory is to study the biology and mechanics of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), develop biologic treatments to prevent and/or minimize IDD initiation and progression, educate and train students, postdoctoral fellows, and residents how to do proper, effective research, and to foster an environment where collaborative and productive research is performed where personal and professional growth is supported and optimized.
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About Us
Research
The lab is divided into 6 main areas of interest: Gene- and Cell-based Therapy, Biology of Disc Degeneration, Biomarker Discovery, Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering, and Biomechanics.
The Ferguson Lab is widely published and continues to expand the boundaries of basic science and clinical spine research.
Research
The lab is divided into 6 main areas of interest: Gene- and Cell-based Therapy, Biology of Disc Degeneration, Biomarker Discovery, Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering, and Biomechanics.