Diego Correa, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D.

(617) 599-8322 (mobile)
(216) 368-0619 (work)
(216) 368-4077 (fax)
diego.correa@case.edu
 

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

• • Musculoskeletal Development, Injury and Repair.
• • Adult Stem Cell Biology.
• • Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell-based Therapy.
• • Skeletal Oncology (primary tumor and metastasis biology).

TRAINING AND EDUCATION:

Postdoctoral training (Senior Research Associate):

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Skeletal Research Center, Department of Biology.
Arnold I. Caplan laboratory.
June 15^th, 2009 - present.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.):

Harvard University Medical School - School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA (USA)
Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity (Thesis advisor moved to Harvard).
January 1^st, 2008 - May 27^th, 2009
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (USA)
Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology.
August 11^th, 2004 - Dec 31^st, 2007.
Thesis: Zfp521, a novel zinc finger transcription factor, regulates chondrocyte differentiation at multiple steps acting downstream of PTHrP.
Advisor: Roland Baron, DDS, Ph.D.

Residency program in Orthopædic Surgery:

Universidad Del Rosario - Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá (Colombia)
January 1^st, 2003 - August 1^st, 2003 (stopped for Ph.D. application).
 

Master in Science (M.Sc.) in Mechanical Engineering:

Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá (Colombia).
Biomedical Engineering Group.
June 1^st, 2000 - June 1^st, 2003
Thesis: Protocols for the in vitro design of animal articular cartilage, based on tissue engineering methodologies.
Advisor: Juan Carlos Briceño, Ph.D.
Full time scholarship.

Medical Doctor (MD):

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá (Colombia).
June 1^st, 1992 - June 1^st, 1998
 

Major Field Courses:

• Universidad del Rosario - Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá (Colombia). “Clinical Research and Evidence Based Medicine”. Awarded for the highest grade. February 2003 – August 2003.

FELLOWSHIPS AND HONORS:

• • Young Investigator Award, OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International). Highest Rated Abstract, World Congress on Osteoarthritis, San Diego, CA - USA, Sept 15-18, 2011.
• • Academy of Achievements 46^th International Summit student delegate, Washington DC, June 19 - 23, 2007.
• • Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation: George Robert Pfeiffer Fellowship, 2005 - 2006 Graduate student - Yale University School of Medicine).
• • NIH Training Grant, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine. August 2004 - August 2007.
• • Engineering School Research Fellowship, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá (Colombia), 2001 - 2003.

RESEARCH SUPPORT:

Active:

1. P01 AR053622 Biomimetic tissue-engineered articular cartilage repair
   Role: Co-PI, Caplan AI,(PI)
   NIH-NIAMS
   08/15/08 - 7/31/13
   The goals of this Program Project proposal are to comprehensively address the critical issues of cell quality and availability, optimal scaffold engineering, and construct-host integration in the context of cartilage tissue engineering.

Pending / In review:

1. Bone marrow MSCs/pericytes: Gatekeepers Controlling Skeletal Metastasis.
   Role: Co-PI, Caplan AI (PI)
   NIH-NCI – RO1
   This proposal is aimed at elucidating the function of MSCs-derived pericytes and their function in blood vessel maturation and stability in the establishment and progression of distant metastasis from breast cancer and melanoma. By disrupting PDGF-B cell signaling in pericytes, the role of blood vessels stability is determined in both extravasation of cancer cells into target organs and the angiogenesis-dependent metastasis progression.
2. Osteochondral repair with a biphasic composite graft in a large animal model.
   Role: Co-PI, Caplan AI (PI)
   NIH-NIAMS – RO1
   The goals of this proposal are to test in a pre-clinical model of cartilage damage a new osteochondral composite graft, and the confirmation of the immune tolerability of xenografted human material in pre-clinical animal models.
3. Functional Cartilage Tissue Engineering with Sequential Growth Factor Treatment.
   Role: Co-Investigator Caplan AI (PI)
   NIH-NIAMS – RO1
   This proposal seeks to improve cartilage repair using bone marrow-derived MSCs implementing a sequential stimulation with CNP and FGF18.
4. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Modulate Murine Skin Wound Repair Role: Co-Investigator Caplan AI (PI)
   NIH-NIGMS-RO1

In process:

1. FGF18 and FGF9 as an anti-hypertrophic factor in chondrogenesis derived from human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs).
   Role: Co-PI, Caplan AI (PI)
   This proposal is aimed at studying the biological effect of FGF18 and FGF9 as anti-hypertrophic molecules in hMSCs-derived chondrocytes, and its physiological relevance for Tissue Engineering approaches for cartilage repair.

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Lin P, Correa D, Lin Y, Caplan AI (2011): “Polybrene inhibits human mesenchymal stem cells proliferation during lentiviral transduction”, PLoS One, 6 (8): e23891.
2. Caplan AI, Correa D (2011): “MSC: An Injury Drugstore”, Cell Stem Cell, July 8; 9 (1): 11 - 15. Invited Perspective article.
3. Caplan AI, Correa D (2011): “PDGF in bone formation and regeneration: New insights into a novel mechanism involving MSCs”, in press Journal of Orthopædic Research; Invited Perspective article.
4. Correa D and Goldberg VM (2011): “Stem Cells in Orthopædics”, American Academy of Orthopædic Surgery (AAOS), July 2011; 5 (7): 41-45. Invited Review article.
5. Seriwatanachai D, Densmore M, Correa D, Baron R, Lanske B (2011): “Deletion of Zfp521 rescues the growth plate phenotype in a mouse model of Jansen Metaphyseal Chondrodysplasia”, FASEB Journal; 25(9): 3057-3067.
6. Hesse E, Saito H, Kiviranta R, Correa D, Yamana K, Neff L, Toben D, Duda G, Atfi A, Geoffroy V, Horne W, Baron R (2010): “Zfp521 controls bone mass by attenuating Runx2 activity in an HDAC3-dependent manner”, Journal of Cell Biology, 191 (7): 1271-1283.
7. Correa D, Hesse E., Seriwatanachai D, Kiviranta R., Saito H, Yamana K, Neff L., Atfi A., Coillard L., Sitara D., Maeda Y., Warming S., Jenkins NA., Copeland NG., Horne WC., Lanske B., Baron R (2010): “The transcriptional co-regulator Zfp521 is a parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) target gene that transduces key PTHrP effects on the growth plate”, Developmental CellOct 19; 19 (4) 533-46.
8. Hesse E, Kluge G, Atfi A, Correa D, Haasper C, Berding G, Shin H, Viering J, Langer F, Vogt P, Krettek C, Jagodzinski M (2010): “Repair of a segmental long bone defect in human by implantation of a novel multiple disc graft”, Bone 46 (5): 1457-1463.
9. Hesse E, Kiviranta R, Wu M, Correa D, Saito H, Yamana K, Atfi A, Baron R (2010): “Zinc finger protein 521, a new player in bone formation”, Ann NY Acad Sci1192 (1): 32-37.
10. Wu M, Hesse E, Morvan F, Zhang JP,Correa D, Rowe G, Kiviranta R, Neff L, Philbrick W, Horne WC, Baron R (2009): “Zfp521, a 30 zinc-finger protein, antagonizes Runx2 and promotes bone formation in vivo”, Bone 44: 528-536.
11. Correa D, Cullinane D, Briceño JC (2003): “Influence of pre-conditioning loads on bovine articular cartilage stress relaxation behavior in confined compression”, Journal of Musculoskeletal Research; 7 (2): 145-150.
12. Correa D, Arroyo J, Llinás A, et al (2002): “Protocolos para el diseño in vitro de cartílago articular animal, basados en métodos de ingeniería de tejidos” (M.S. Thesis), Revista Colombiana de Biotecnología; 4 (1): 107-113.

In review:

1. Correa D and Segal SS (2011): “ Neurovascular alignment in the mouse diaphragm muscle”, Microcirculation.
2. Kiviranta R, Yamana K, Saito H, Hesse E,Correa D, Atfi A., Horne W, Warming S, Baron R (2011): “The transcriptional co-regulator zfp521 interacts with ebf1 to regulate bone homeostasis at several checkpoints”, Developmental Cell.

PATENTS:

1. Bone Marrow Pericytes/MSC: Gatekeepers Controlling Skeletal Metastasis from Melanoma. In review (2012 - 2038).

INVENTIONS:

1. Correa D, Welter JF, Caplan AI: “Chondroinductive Incubator”. Modified bioreactor suitable for confined chondroinduction in small volumes, allowing the integration of chondral and bone phases in biphasic composite grafts for Cartilage Tissue Engineering. Prototype already manufactured; currently obtaining data for patent application.

PRESENTATIONS AT MEETINGS:

1. Correa D., Welter J., Duesler L., Caplan AI: “ Fibroblast growth factors 18 and 9 regulate chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells”. OARSI meeting 2011, San Diego, CA, USA: September 15 - 18, 2011. Highest Rated Abstract - Young Investigators Award.
2. Correa D., Kiviranta R., Hesse E., Saito H, Yamana K, Neff L., Sitara D., Maeda Y., Warming S., Jenkins NA., Copeland NG., Lanske B., Horne W.C., Baron R.: “The transcriptional co-regulator zfp521 modulates chondrocyte differentiation and contributes to the effects of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) on the Growth Plate”. ASBMR meeting 2009 (oral presentation), Denver, CO -USA: Sept 2009.
3. Correa D, Kiviranta R, Hesse E., Saito H, Yamana K, Neff L, Horne WC, Baron R: “ Zfp521, a novel transcription factor, regulates chondrocyte differentiation downstream of PTHrP”. ASBMR meeting 2007 (oral presentation), Honolulu, HI, USA: September, 2007.
4. Correa D, Segal SS: “ Neurovascular alignment in the mouse diaphragm muscle”, Experimental Biology Meeting 2007 (poster), Washington DC, USA: April 28^th- May 2^nd, 2007.
5. Suárez DR,Correa D, Abello S, García F, Briceño JC: “Alternative fixing of the arthrodesis of hallux metatarsophalangeal joint”. 52º Meeting of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO), Washington DC, USA: June, 2004.
6. Correa D, Briceño JC: “Protocols for the in vitro design of animal articular cartilage, based on tissue engineering methodologies” (MSc Thesis), II seminar of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá (Colombia), December 10 - 11, 2001.
7. Correa D, Briceño JC: “Protocols for the in vitro design of animal articular cartilage, based on tissue engineering methodologies” (MSc Thesis), I National Congress of Biotechnology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá (Colombia), June 26 - 28, 2002.

LECTURES:

1. Guest speaker, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Medical Physiology course, Spring 2012.
2. Invited speaker, International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) World Congress, San Juan, PR; June 12-16, 2011.: Lectures: “Stem cells as regulators of the immune system” (June 13^th) and “Stem cells in regenerative medicine” (June 16^th).
3. Guest speaker, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, March 1^st, 2010.
4. Invited speaker, 4^th National Meeting of Orthopædic Basic Sciences: “All about Cartilage”, Lecture: “Extracellular matrix of articular cartilage”; Colombian Society of Orthopædic Surgery and Trauma (SCCOT), Bogotá, August 15 - 16, 2003.
5. Invited speaker in Orthopædic basic science training course for residents (Synthes - AO Foundation – Bogotá-Colombia): Skeletal and Tissue Biomechanics, September 2003 - December 2003.
6. Guest speaker, Rice University, Houston, TX (USA); “Protocols for the in vitro design of animal articular cartilage, based on tissue engineering methods”, August 21, 2002. Invited by Dr Kyriacos Athanasiou, PhD.

SOCIETIES:

• • American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). 2006 – present.
• • Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI). 2011 – present.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Journal Services: Invited Peer Reviewer.
• - Bone: 2006 - present. Area: Growth Plate and Bone Development and Physiology, Stem cell-based therapies.
• - Cell & Tissue Research: 2010 - present. Area: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Biology.
• - Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB): 2008 - present. Area: Growth Plate and Bone Development and Physiology.
• - PLoS: 2011 - present. Area: Stem Cell-based therapy and Adult Stem Cell Biology.
• Researcher at the Biomedical Engineering Group and Human Genetics Laboratory.
  Universidad de Los Andes, Cra 1 # 18A - 12, Bogotá (Colombia).
• Coordinator of the Articular Cartilage Biology, Tissue Engineering and Biomechanics research area.
  Part time (as a M.Sc. thesis student).
  January 1^st, 2002 - June 1^st, 2003.
• Hospitalist Physician.
  Clínica del Country, Cra 16 # 82 - 57, Bogotá (Colombia).
• Attending Physician at the Emergency Room and Surgery assistant physician (Orthopædic Surgery Department).
  Part time.
  January 15^th, 2000 - January 15^th, 2001.
• Medical Doctor.
  Geophysical Acquisition and Processing Services (GAPS company).
  Medical Doctor and director of the Medical Department for the oil exploration projects: HOCOL 99 and ECOPETROL 99. Full time.
  September 1^st, 1999 - January 10^st, 2000.
• Social Service year - Medical Doctor.
  Hospital San Rafael, Espinal – Tolima (Colombia), Level II.
  August 1^st, 1998 - August 1^st, 1999.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

• • Universidad de Los Andes School of Medicine, Bogotá (Colombia). Lecturer in Medical Physiology, 2006 – present (Summer course in Cellular Physiology for Medical School students).
• • Teaching Assistant: Biological mechanisms of reaction to injury. Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, January - May 2007.
• • Teaching Assistant: Systems Physiology. Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, September - December 2006, September- December 2007.
• • Teaching Assistant: Physiology for engineers. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá (Colombia), 2001 – 2003.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

• • Co-creator and coordinator of the Medical Department: Pocalana Association for the care of the Colombian destitute people (Program initiated in Bogotá). Private organization of young professionals. Started in 1996 (as a medical student) – 2002.
• • Achievements: several homeless out of the streets, establishment of health preventive activities in homeless children and pregnant women and improvement of health care services for a growing homeless population in Bogotá (Colombia).

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

• • Sports: Soccer, Tennis, Golf and Squash.
• • Medical Doctor and Counselor: Kajuyali Summer Camp (ages 7 to 17). Ecuador (Jul-Aug 1999); Costa Rica (Jul-Aug 2000) and Guatemala (Jul-Aug 2001).
• • Hobbies: Writing, Manual work with cast and wood.

LANGUAGES:

• • Spanish, English and French