College
B.S., Biology, University of Notre Dame, 1976

Graduate School
M.A., Biology, Indiana University, 1978

Doctoral Program
Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 1987

Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

Fellowship: Area of Concentration
Cell and Molecular Biology

Year Appointed to Penn Faculty
1993, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Other Faculty Appointments
1996, Department of Genetics
1996, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group
1998, Co-Director of the Center for Research in FOP and Related Disorders
2001, Genomics Institute

Positions Held in Major Societies
Scientific Advisor, International Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Association Scientific Advisor, Progressive Osseous Heteroplasia Association Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science Member, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Member, Advances in Mineral Metabolism Member, American Society for Human Genetics

Areas of Expertise
Genetic diseases of bone formation and development. Molecular biology and genetics of bone formation.

Areas of Special Interest
Research is focused on genetic diseases of bone formation, mainly fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) and progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH). Both of these rare disorders are characterized by de novo formation of bone: in FOP, the ectopic bone forms in deep connective tissues such as muscle; and in POH, bone formation initiates within the skin. Our goals are to identify the genetic causes of these conditions and the cellular pathways that are involved in the induction of bone development and formation, and to use this information to develop treatments for these and other disorders of bone.

Publications:
For a listing of recent publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine.