Welcome to the Lab
The Neuroskeletal Biology Laboratory (NSBL) was founded in 2016 and is part of the Musculoskeletal Research Center (MRC) and Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases at Washington University. The laboratory consists of a mix of technicians, trainees/fellows, and undergraduate researchers. For more information about our members and their accomplishments, please see the people, awards, and antics pages. You can also find us on twitter.
Our Research
Our laboratory synthesizes concepts from cell biology, physiology, and bioengineering to study the relationships between the nervous system and the skeleton. We have a directed interest in understanding how neural signals contribute to skeletal homeostasis, and how perturbations to this system contribute to bone loss, impaired healing, and skeletal pain. For more information about our work, see our projects and publications.
Recent Events
Madelyn Lorenz unveils the Neuroskeletal Atlas at ASBMR
After 4 years of hard work, Madelyn Lorenz was selected to present her new Neuroskeletal Atlas of the Mouse Limb as a featured oral presentation at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) annual meeting. The Atlas is currently in preparation for publication and we anticipate having it available for preliminary use through […]
JBMR Nerves in Bone review ranked #3 in yearly downloads
Congratulations to postdoctoral fellow Dr. Jennifer Brazill and her co-authors on publishing the 3rd most downloaded paper from JBMR over the past year - "Nerves in Bone: Evolving Concepts in Pain and Anabolism". This speaks to the high quality of the article and the emerging interest in the field. Great work!
Xiao Zhang wins two research awards for work on marrow fat
Xiao Zhang won two of the prestigious awards for research at the recent BMA2020 meeting. After an independent committee review, his oral presentation "Fat in a fatless mouse: a novel origin of maladapted bone marrow adipocytes with age and disease" won 1st place in the best abstract category. In addition, his 2nd abstract "Neural contributions […]
Big happenings at the BMA2020 meeting
The 6th Annual Meeting of the Bone Marrow Adiposity Society (BMA2020), co-organized by our very own Dr. Scheller, was quite the event. With 55 abstracts, 11 invited speakers, 205 attendees, and even a live trivia event hosted by American Ninja Warrior's Alex Weber - it was one for the books. Congratulations to Dr. Scheller on […]
Many congratulations to Hero Robles as he begins medical school
Hero has been with us in the lab from the beginning, first as an undergraduate and then as a technician. We will miss him greatly, but are so proud to have been part of his journey to becoming a medical professional. Best of luck Hero!
Marrow adipose tissue has distinct roles in glucose homeostasis
Great to see this manuscript come together in the Cawthorn lab after many years of hard work, including his brand new BMAT imaging and analysis techniques and lots of lingering data generated by Drs. Cawthorn and Scheller when they worked together as postdocs in the MacDougald lab (Dr. Scheller made some of the blots in […]
Dr. Scheller elected to the board of ISBM
Dr. Scheller was elected to serve as a 2020 - 2022 board member for the International Society of Bone Morphometry (ISBM). She will work with the society and board to develop the field of skeletal imaging and morphology, including hosting the 2022 ISBM meeting in Denmark.
Graduate student Alec Beeve awarded BMES travel award
Mr. Beeve was selected as a recipient of the Department of Bioengineering travel award to attend the BMES conference in San Diego, CA where he will present his work on the acute and chronic regulation of bone by bioelectric stimulation of the sciatic nerve. Congratulations Alec!
Ivana Shen awarded 2020 BioSURF Fellowship
Ms. Ivana Shen was awarded a 2020 BioSURF fellowship to pursue her work on the relationship between nerve quality and bone health in mice and humans with diabetes. Congratulations, Ivana!
Visits to UCLA and UCSF prompt discussions about nerves in bone
Dr. Scheller was hosted by Dr. Tamara Alliston and the to UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery to present the ongoing work in the laboratory pertaining to neural regulation of skeletal pathophysiology as part of the CCMBM seminar series. She then traveled to the UCLA School of Dentistry to visit with Dr. Paul Krebsbach and to […]