People – Mienaltowski Laboratory

Michael Mienaltowski, DVM, PhD (Principal Investigator):

BS, Zoology: Cellular & Developmental Biology, Michigan State University (1999); DVM, Michigan State University (2004); PhD, Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky (2008); Post-doctoral research, Depts of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, and Pathology & Cell Biology at the Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida (2008-2014).

My primary research interests are based in the development, maturation, and repair of musculoskeletal tissues. Past efforts have been focused on articular cartilage and tendon, particularly on how phenotypes for cells like chondrocytes, bone marrow stromal cells, and tendon peritenon- and tendon proper-derived progenitor cells differ by niche, or surrounding environment. Additionally, because collagen assembly and organization are important to functionally sound musculoskeletal tissue, my research interests include the examination of how collagen fibrillogenesis might be manipulated to achieve optimal recovery of tissues with repair. The ultimate goal is to determine if alterations in niche components and organization and/or interacting cell physiology can lead to alterations in repair pathways or tissue engineering strategies to prevent and treat musculoskeletal injury. Additionally, I have become interested in the effects of diet on growth; projects on this topic generally relate to to foal health as its grows in its first eight months of life as well as broiler muscle growth from starting to market weight. Office: 2211 Meyer Hall, UC Davis Campus. Phone: (530) 207-3226. Email: mjmienaltowski@ucdavis.edu