Beata Lecka-Czernik, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery with a joint appointment
in the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology
Phone: 419.383.4140
Fax: 419.383.2871
Email: beata.leckaczernik@utoledo.edu
My laboratory is studying factors which determine cross-talk between bone and energy metabolism. This includes studies on the skeletal status in diabetes and safety for bone of anti-diabetic therapies.
We have demonstrated that the same factors which regulate energy metabolism are involved in regulation of bone homeostasis and that changes in fat metabolic status correlate with decline or improvement in bone quality.
Recently, we focused on nuclear receptors controlling energy metabolism (PPARG and PPARA) for their role in osteocyte regulation of bone mass, systemic energy metabolism, bone healing and cancer metastasis.
Primary outcome of our research is to determine whether it is possible to develop one therapy which would be simultaneously beneficial for treatment of diabetes and bone diseases.
I am actively involved in educational activities to propagate research on skeletal status in diabetes acting as Editor-in-Chief of the book Diabetic Bone Disease published by Springer, Guest Editor of Bone Special Issue on Metabolism and Diabetes Mellitus, Guest Editor of Current Osteoporosis Reports Special Issue on Bone and Fat, Guest Editor of Bone Special Issue on Bone and Adipose Tissue and as a member of ASBMR Work Group to Promote Communication with Diabetes Researchers. The work of this group resulted in organization of Joint ADA/ASBMR Symposium at the ADA 76th Scientific Session titled “Sticks and Stones Can Break My Bones: What About Diabetes?” and comprehensive reviews published in Diabetes and Diabetologia.
EDUCATION
- B.Sc., Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland, 1979
- M.Sc., Genetics, University of Warsaw, Poland, 1980
- Ph.D., Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland, 1985
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Molecular Bases of Cellular Senescence (Mentor - S. Goldstein), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 1991
- Mentored Research, Skeletal Biology and Pathophysiology (Mentors - S. Manolagas/R. Jilka), University of Arkansas for Medical Research, Little Rock, AR, 1995
CURRENT RESEARCH SUPPORT
Grant Title: PPARG regulates osteocyte bioenergetics and function during aging
Agency: NIH NIA R01 AG71332
Role: Principal Investigator
Grant Title: Common mechanisms regulating osteocyte support for bone remodeling and energy metabolism
Agency: American Diabetes Association 1-19-IBS-029
Role: Principal Investigator
COMPLETE LIST OF PUBLISHED WORK
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=lecka-czernik
PATENTS
Lecka-Czernik, B. Novel DNA binding protein S1-3. Patent U. S. Serial No. 08/616,857, 1999.
Lecka-Czernik, B. Novel zinc binding LIM protein S2-6. Patent U. S. Serial No. 60/017,658, 1998.
Griffin, P.R., Kamenecka T., Lecka-Czernik, B. PPARG MODULATORS FOR TREATMENT OF OSTEOPOROSIS. US2017/0035730. Issued July 10, 2018