Ryan Porter Institution Verified

Sourced from institutional research profiles (UAMS TRI or ARA).

Assistant Professor

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

faculty

Internal Med, College of Medicine

Research Areas

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Research Group UAMS TRI Profile

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OverviewAI-generated summary

Ryan Porter's research program centers on chondrocyte biology and cartilage regenerative medicine, with a long-term goal of developing improved strategies to protect articular cartilage from degeneration. His work addresses the mechanisms by which chondrocytes, the sole cells within cartilage, fail to maintain tissue integrity during the onset of osteoarthritis. Additionally, his research investigates methods to enhance therapeutic drug delivery to articular cartilage for tissue protection and repair. This research has received support from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, and the UAMS College of Medicine’s Bone and Joint Initiative.

Research Overview

My research program focuses on chondrocyte biology and cartilage regenerative medicine. Articular cartilage is vital to the function of synovial joints, and its loss is a central feature of osteoarthritis (OA). A long term goal of this research is to develop better strategies to protect articular cartilage from degeneration in response to joint injury or aging, two major risk factors for developing OA. Current projects can be divided into two themes. The first seeks to understand why chondrocytes, the lone cells within cartilage, fail to maintain this tissue during the onset of OA. The second theme aims to improve therapeutic drug delivery to articular cartilage, in order to prevent tissue loss and/or stimulate repair. This work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, and the UAMS College of Medicine’s Bone and Joint Initiative.

Research Interests

Articular Cartilage; Osteoarthritis; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells, Multipotent; Aging; Drug Delivery Systems; Regenerative Medicine; Gene Therapy

Grants & Funding

Role of subchondral bone osteocytes in post-traumatic osteoarthritis US Department of Defense Co-Investigator
Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research (CMDR) NIH/Nat. Inst. of General Medical Sciences Co-Investigator
Intra-cartilage depot delivery of electrically-charged IL-1RA for targeting osteoarthritis-associated inflammation and catabolism in multiple joint tissues NIH/Nat. Inst. of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases - Pass Through: Northeastern University Co-Investigator
A Transgenic Rat for Noninvasive Assessment of Chondrogenic Activity in vivo NIH Principal Investigator
Drug Delivery System for Treating Post Traumatic Osteoarthritis in Human and Equine Populations MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation - Pass Through: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Co-Investigator
Harnessing Extracellular Vesicles to Direct the Repair of Osseous Defects NIH Principal Investigator