Our program focuses on intervertebral disc biology. Specifically, our emphasis lays on two directions: First, to explore the roles of nutrition on disc degeneration and repair. Second, to assess the molecular pathways that regulate intervertebral disc cellularity in aging and injury related disc degeneration. Utilizing dietary and transgenic mouse models, intervertebral disc organ cultures, and human intervertebral disc cell cultures, our goal is to shed light into the interplay of diet and disc degeneration, and to identify druggable targets to maintain intervertebral disc health during aging and to promote intervertebral disc healing after injury.