Roy C. Ogle

Professor of Medicine, Biomedical Engineering and Plastic Surgery

Ph.D., Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Virginia, 1985

PO Box 800546
Charlottesville, VA 22908
434-982-3840

rco2j@Virginia.EDU

Research Interests

The three main areas of research in this laboratory include growth factor signaling during morphogenesis of the vertebrate head, interactions of metastatic tumor cells with extracellular matrix, and regeneration of skeletal tissues. The first project focuses on the inductive interactions responsible for formation of the tissues overlying the developing brain -- particularly the sutural growth sites, which are responsible for appositional bone growth, and consequently, the global form of the face and skull. Currently we are determining the expression patterns of the elements of the FGF system -- fibroblast growth factors (FGF) 2 and 4 and FGF receptors 1, 2 and 3 and the specific functions of this signalling system in proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of individual cells. We are also beginning the construction of transgenic mice expressing the human genes for FGFRs with the point mutations responsible for human craniofacial abnormalities to better understand when and where these mutations exert their harmful influence during skeletal development. A second area of research concerns the influence of extracellular matrix components such as laminin and vitronectin on gene expression, adhesion and movement of tumor cells. Integrin receptors for extracellular matrix are differentially expressed or show selective activity that enables certain tumor cells to metastasize. Long range goals include using the integrin-ligand interface to design drugs to block metastasis and determining why certain tumors (prostate and breast) primarily target bone. In the final project, combinations of native extracellular matrixes, stem cells and growth factors are being tested for capacity to regenerate bone, cartilage and associated tissues. Initial animal trials have proved successful, thus future goals include adaptation of current methodology to human tissue regeneration and surgical applications such as spinal fusion and bone grafting.

Recent Publications

Tholpady SS, Ogle RC, Katz AJ
Adipose stem cells and solid organ transplantation.

Neal RA, McClugage SG, Link MC, Sefcik LS, Ogle RC, Botchwey EA
Laminin nanofiber meshes that mimic morphological properties and bioactivity of basement membranes.

Sefcik LS, Neal RA, Kaszuba SN, Parker AM, Katz AJ, Ogle RC, Botchwey EA
Collagen nanofibres are a biomimetic substrate for the serum-free osteogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells.

Petrie Aronin CE, Sadik KW, Lay AL, Rion DB, Tholpady SS, Ogle RC, Botchwey EA
Comparative effects of scaffold pore size, pore volume, and total void volume on cranial bone healing patterns using microsphere-based scaffolds.

Petrie Aronin CE, Cooper JA, Sefcik LS, Tholpady SS, Ogle RC, Botchwey EA
Osteogenic differentiation of dura mater stem cells cultured in vitro on three-dimensional porous scaffolds of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) fabricated via co-extrusion and gas foaming.

More Publications