Invited Faculty
  • Frank Beier
    Western Univ.
    Canada
  • Frank Beier is the Canada Research Chair in Musculoskeletal Research, the Chair of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Western Ontario, and a member of Western University’s Bone and Joint Institute. His lab explores mechanisms controlling cartilage and joint biology, both during skeletal development and in diseases such as osteoarthritis, using genome-wide gene expression studies and genetically modified mice for osteoarthritis research. For example, his research first implicated the EGFR pathway, several nuclear receptors, and the channel protein Pannexin 3 in this disease. Based on the identification of these pathways as mediators of osteoarthritis pathogenesis, several of his current projects attempt to translate these basic findings towards clinical applications.

    Dr. Beier has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and gave more than 140 invited presentations across the world. His work is currently supported by Project Grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and funds from the NIH. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) and Deputy Editor for Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. He was the Chair of the 2017 Cartilage Gordon Conference and was awarded the Basic Science Award from OARSI in 2019. He served as standing member of the SBSR and SBDD study sections at NIH.

    In addition to his research, Dr. Beier is passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists and about EDI and social justice in academia and beyond. Dr. Beier lives in London, Canada. He has six children and, consequently, enjoys every moment of quiet he can get, especially while hiking and biking outside.
    Research & Clinical Focus

    osteoarthritis

    mouse models

    cartilage

    signalling

    genetics

    • Date Time Room Session Title Lecture Title
    May 18 13:00-13:30 Room Room1 International Symposium 5_Innovative Treatment in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases Novel mechanisms and emerging therapeutic targets for OA