Nele is a postdoc working to identify novel genetic causes of skeletal disorders, to study the underlying mechanism(s) that are leading to disease and the development of therapeutic strategies. More specifically, she is developing and characterizing genetic mouse models to study Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a debilitating hereditary skeletal disorder that is better known as brittle bone disease. This disorder is characterized by low bone mass, skeletal fragility, and muscle weakness. Attempts to increase bone mass or strength in these patients by altering aspects of bone metabolism have thus far had limited success. Muscles interact both physically and biochemically with bones and researchers are slowly starting to get a better understanding of how muscles and bones communicate with one another to alter the homeostasis of the other tissue and adapt to novel environments and/or strains on the skeleton. She is interested in assessing these physical and chemical interactions between muscles and bone, with the ultimate aim of identifying novel molecules that can strengthen bones of patients who suffer from low bone mass and have a high risk of fracture.
