May 26, 2026

9:00am - 3:15pm

North Campus Research Complex, Bldg 18, Football Room (Dining Hall)

External Advisors:

Karyn Esser, PhD

Louis C. Gerstenfeld, PhD

Clifford J. Rosen, MD

Keynote Speaker:

Renny Franceschi, PhD

Marcus L. Ward Collegiate Professor of Dentistry 

Emeritus and Professor of Biological Chemistry 

Emeritus in the Medical School

Agenda: The full agenda with abstracts 10th Annual Symposium Brochure 

The 10th Annual Musculoskeletal Health Symposium was held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in the North Campus Research Complex, Building 18, Football Room (Dining Hall); in addition to the keynote presentation, the symposium featured a poster session highlighting work by junior faculty, trainees, students, fellows, staff, and house officers. Trainees (students, postdoctoral fellows, house officers) were eligible to compete for 1 of 3 travel awards ($650/award). Awardees were selected based on the following criteria: Abstracts designated for the poster competition were judged, and six finalists were selected to give short podium presentations at the Symposium. Three travel award recipients were chosen from these finalists and were announced at the conclusion of the meeting. 

We are very excited about the opportunity for our community coming together for this event to celebrate the incredible MSK research being conducted at UM and our collaborative institutions. Thank you to all (inside or outside UofM) who are able to attend.

Missed the Symposium or want to revisit a presentation?
To view the full Symposium event, including the keynote presentation by Dr. Renny Franceschi, Faculty Talks, and Travel Award presentations, click here.

You can also browse photos from the event in the photo gallery.

Agenda (all times in EST): 

8:30-9:00 am Poster Setup and Refreshments

9:00-9:05 am Welcome and MiMHC Update, Megan Killian, PhD, Moderator

9:05-10:05 am Faculty Presentations, Megan Killian, PhD, Moderator

Mario Fabiilli, PhD, “From Bubbles to Bone: Ultrasound-Responsive Smart Hydrogels for Regeneration” 

Randy Duncan, PhD, “TRPV4 Channels in Osteoarthritis: Response to a Different Kind of Stress” 

Eri Takematsu, PhD, “Engineering the Cellular Niche: Biomaterials, ECM Signaling, and Stem Cell Fate“ 

10:05-10:15 am Break

10:15 - 11:45 am Travel Award Competition, Dave Kohn, PhD, Moderator 

Sydney Markel, “Role of Proprioception in Orofacial Muscle Control” 

Karin Harumi Uchima Koecklin, “Proprioceptive Control of Orofacial Functions by Different Neuronal Populations in  Mice” 

Mohd Parvez Khan, “PPARgamma Orchestrates Osteocyte Mitochondrial Metabolism and Oxidative Stress via HIF1a to Preserve Skeletal Integrity During Aging” 

Christophe Merceron, “Iron-Deficiency Anemia Modulates ErythropoiesisBone Crosstalk and Drives Bone Loss” 

Ruchir Sriram, “Skeletal Implications of Protecting Renal Function via Induced Ketosis in the db/db Murine Model of Early Diabetic Kidney Disease” 

Saumya Bhagat, “KDM5C-Dependent Control of Osteoclast Pathways: Linking RANKL Signaling, Inflammation, and Sex Differences in Bone Homeostasis” 

11:45-12:00 pm Group Photo

12:00-12:30 pm Lunch

12:30-2:00 pm Poster Session (First 45min odd numbered posters/Last 45min even numbered)

2:00-3:00 pm Keynote Address, Karl Jepsen, PhD, Moderator 

Renny Franceschi, PhD - "From Then to Now; 30 Years of Bone Biology at Michigan" 

3:00-3:15 pm Award Presentations & Conclusion, Megan Killian, PhD, Moderator