Bone and Muscle Cell Biology
The Laboratory for Bone and Muscle Cell Biology studies regulation of the behaviour of bone, cartilage and muscle cells during development, regeneration and pathology.
Areas of current interest include the role of protease-activated receptors in a variety of contexts such as muscle-bone interactions and periodontal disease, the role of the hypertrophic chondrocyte in bone growth, bone health in dairy cows and the structural basis for bone injury in racehorses.
News and events
Contact the team
Dr Charles Pagel
Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Molecular Sciences
Our researchers and graduate research students.
Group members
Dr Charles Pagel
Charles Pagel is a biochemist and molecular biologist with 30 years’ experience investigating skeletal muscle and bone pathology, injury and regeneration. Dr Pagel has expertise in cell culture, transcriptomics, RT-PCR and the use of models of diseases of the musculoskeletal system to understand pathology and develop novel therapies.
cpagel@unimelb.edu.au +61383447362Mrs Liliana Tatarczuch
Liliana Tatarczuch is an electron microscopist with particular expertise in the analysis of skeletal tissues.
liliana@unimelb.edu.au +61383447364Dr Reza Sanaei
Reza Sanaei recently completed a PhD and has an research interest in biomaterials, bone biology and inflammatory bone disease. Reza has particular expertise in the use of bone imaging techniques and histomorphometry in the study of bone tissue.
reza.sanaei@unimelb.edu.au +61383449906Dr Tunde Ayodele
Tunde Ayodele is a veterinary graduate who undertakes research on limb injury in athletic horses. He brings expertise in molecular biology and structural analyses of bone and cartilage to the equine orthopaedic research at the University of Melbourne. He is broadly interested in the pathophysiology of musculoskeletal diseases.
awodeleb@unimelb.edu.au +61383442180Prof Eleanor Mackie
Eleanor Mackie is a veterinarian who undertakes research on basic aspects of musculoskeletal development and pathology. She has particular expertise in the study of bone and cartilage cell biology through the use of cell culture, animal models and a variety of methods for analysing tissue structure.
ejmackie@unimelb.edu.au +61383447360Graduate researchers
Aisha Tarar
Aisha Tarar is investigating the effects of milk yield, nutrient partitioning and lactation on bone health in dairy cattle in her PhD research.
atarar@student.unimelb.edu.auThe Laboratory for Bone and Muscle Cell Biology studies regulation of the behaviour of bone, cartilage and muscle cells during development, regeneration and pathology.
Research projects
Bone health in dairy cattle
In this project, the effect of different phases of lactation on bone turnover in dairy cattle is investigated.
Faculty researchers
- Aisha Tarar
- Dr Charles Pagel
- Dr Reza Sanaei
- Professor Eleanor Mackie
- Dr Kristy DiGiacomo, School of Agriculture and Food, the University of Melbourne
- Professor Brian Leury, School of Agriculture and Food, the University of Melbourne
Muscle-bone interactions in muscular dystrophy
This project examines the role of protease-activated receptor in the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy.
Faculty researchers
Morphological diversity of chondrocytes in growth cartilage
In this project, the roles of morphologically diverse chondrocytes in bone growth are investigated using electron microscopy.
Faculty researchers
Bone microstructure and turnover in athletic horses
This project forms part of a larger program aimed at preventing limb injury in racehorses.
Faculty researchers
- Dr Babatunde Ayodele
- Professor Eleanor Mackie
- Professor Chris Whitton, Melbourne Veterinary School, the University of Melbourne
- Dr Peta Hitchens, Melbourne Veterinary School, the University of Melbourne
Proteases and the molecular pathogenesis of periodontal disease
This project aims to identify the critical roles played by proteases (both host and pathogen-derived) and their receptors in the chronic inflammatory state of periodontal disease.