In the Whitlock Lab, we love and learn from the multinucleated cell types that manage the life-long development and maintainence of the musculoskeletal system.

Currently, our primary focus lies in resolving how osteoclasts form, function, and signaling in the management of lifelong skeletal function and repair. Bones are living tissues, continuously remade on-site by teams of multinucleated osteoclasts that resorb old bone and osteoblasts that deposit new bone. The number of nuclei within a multinucleated osteoclasts determines its resorption capacity, and many skeletal pathologies are underpinned by perturbations in the number/size of osteoclasts. Gaps in our fundamental understanding of how osteoclasts form, function, and coordinate with osteoblasts to maintained skeletal integrity have stymied the identification of novel, targeted therapies. Our collective of curious folks seek to uncover a mechanistic understanding of how osteoclasts form, function, and coordinate with other cell types to maintain this - the biological system that underpins the shape, function, and biomechanical integrity of our bodies. Our primary end lies in two parts: 1) to help our neighbors fall in love with the beauty and wonder of their bodies and 2) to meet urgent needs facing children and families battling progressive, life threatening pediatric skeletal diseases.