Research

Team

Stavros C. Manolagas, M.D., Ph.D., the Thomas E. Andreoli, M.D., MACP, Clinical Scholar Chair in Internal Medicine, is the founder and Director of the Center, and Director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at UAMS and the Endocrine Section at CAVHS. He joined UAMS in December 1993, after nine years at the University of California at San Diego and six years at Indiana University and the Indianapolis VA Medical Center. He has spent his entire research career studying the interactions between the endocrine, hematolymphopoietic, and skeletal systems. His current research focus is on the actions of estrogens and androgens on bone and the development of new bone anabolic therapeutics.

A. Michael Parfitt, M.D. joined the group in July 1995. Dr. Parfitt has devoted most of his professional life to the understanding of metabolic bone disease and disordered bone mineral metabolism, and between 1971 and 1995 was Director of the Bone and Mineral Research Laboratory at Henry Ford Hospital. He has been part of the team since 1995.

Robert L. Jilka, Ph.D., a Professor of Medicine and a VA Research Career Scientist with over 20-years experience in bone cell biology and service in the VA, joined Dr. Manolagas in 1990 in Indianapolis. He transferred with him to UAMS and is the Associate Director of the Center. His current work is on the regulation of osteoblast apoptosis and the actions of parathyroid hormone.

Robert Weinstein, M.D., a Professor of Medicine and VA staff physician, joined the group in August 1994 from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, where he had been working exclusively in the area of bone and mineral metabolism for the last 20 years. He has extensive experience in bone histomorphometry and densitometry, and has been responsible for adapting these technologies for the study of animal models of osteoporosis. His studies examine the adverse effects of steroids on bone.

Robert J. Shmookler Reis, Ph.D. a Professor of Geriatrics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UAMS, is also a member of the team. He has been a member of the Little Rock VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) with unique contributions to understanding the genetics of senescence. He is conducting chromosomal mapping in order to identify genes responsible for the low bone mass exhibited in a mouse model of defective osteoblastogenesis and early senescence.

Teresita Bellido, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of the South, Argentina. She joined the group as a postdoctoral fellow in 1990. Her current research work focuses on bone cell signaling and the regulation apoptosis by bisphosphonates and mechanical stimuli.

Charles O'Brien, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor of Medicine, is a molecular biologist trained at Oklahoma University and Yale. He joined the Center in 1994 and his work focuses on factors controlling osteoclastogenesis.

Lilian Plotkin, Ph.D. is a Research Assistant Professor with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and has worked in the Center since 1998.

Maria Schuller Almeida, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, has a Ph.D. in marine biology. She received her degree from the Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Portugal. Prior to joining the Center she conducted research in mineralization in oysters, in her native Portugal and in Paris, France.

Li Han, M.D. is an Instructor, with an M.D. degree from Beijing Medical University, China and she has with the group since 1996.

Ann Mancino, M.D., a VA staff surgical endocrinologist and V. Suzanne Klimberg, M.D., Chief of the VAMC/Arkansas Cancer Research Center Breast Service, collaborates with the faculty of the Osteoporosis Center in studies on the mechanism of breast cancer metastases and the effects of estrogen on bone mineral density in breast cancer survivors.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS

Carlos Galli, Ph.D. joined the group in 2006.

Elena Ambrogini, M.D. joined the group in 2006.

Marta Martín-Millan, Ph.D. joined the group in 2006.