Xu Cao | interoception  | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Architecture Engineers

Prof. Xu Cao | interoception  | Best Researcher Award

Orthopedics Research at University of Johns Hopkins , United States

Professional Profile

Scopus

Summary

Dr. Xu Cao is the Lee Riley Professor and Director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Research at Johns Hopkins University. An internationally recognized expert in bone biology and musculoskeletal science, he has significantly advanced our understanding of bone remodeling, interoception, and skeletal diseases. With over three decades of academic and clinical research experience, Dr. Cao has led groundbreaking studies in the interplay between the skeletal and nervous systems, and his contributions continue to influence the fields of orthopedics and regenerative medicine.

Educational Details

Dr. Cao earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of South Carolina, Columbia (1988–1991). He then completed postdoctoral training in bone biology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri (1991–1996), focusing on skeletal research and molecular signaling pathways that regulate bone health.

Professional Experience

Dr. Cao began his academic career as an Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1996. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2000 and Professor in 2004. In 2009, he joined Johns Hopkins University as the Lee Riley Professor and Director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Research in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He is also the founding editor of Bone Research and Translational Biomaterials, actively shaping the field’s academic dialogue.

Research Interests

Dr. Cao's research focuses on bone biology, arthritis, interoception, and pain signaling. He is known for discovering TGF-β as a coupling factor in bone remodeling and revealing its role in angiogenesis and skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and enthesopathy. His recent studies highlight the brain-skeletal axis and how the central nervous system modulates bone health through molecular pathways like PGE2/EP4 interoception.

Author Metrics

Dr. Cao has authored over 167 peer-reviewed journal articles, holds an H-index of 77, and has contributed to 25 major research projects. His innovation portfolio includes 21 patents and 5 published books. He has also led 7 industry consultancy projects, underlining his translational impact on medical science and technology.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Cao has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Merck Young Investigator Award, Sandoz Award, and the John Haddad Young Investigator Award, all conferred by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) in 1993. He holds memberships in leading professional organizations such as ASBMR, ORS, and ICMRS, reflecting his ongoing commitment to advancing orthopedic and musculoskeletal science globally.

Publication Top Notes

 1. Brain Regulates Weight‑Bearing Bone through PGE₂ Skeletal Interoception: Implication of Ankle Osteoarthritis and Pain

Summary:

2. Proton‑Activated Chloride Channel Increases Endplate Porosity and Pain in a Mouse Spine Degeneration Model

Highlights:

  • Acidic microenvironment in spinal degeneration activates the PAC channel, upregulated during osteoclastogenesis via RANKL/NFATc1.

  • Activated PAC promotes osteoclast fusion, increasing endplate porosity, nerve innervation, and pain behaviors.

  • PAC knockout mice show normalized endplate structure and reduced mechanical hypersensitivity, suggesting PAC as a therapeutic target for spinal pain.

 3. Cachexia in Preclinical Rheumatoid Arthritis: Longitudinal Observational Study of Thigh MRI from Osteoarthritis Initiative Cohort

Study Design and Results:

  • 102 Pre‑RA subjects vs. 306 matched controls assessed via thigh MRI at baseline and after 2 years.

  • Pre‑RA group experienced significantly greater muscle atrophy: ΔCSA ≈ ‑180 mm² over 2 years (P < 0.001).

  • Intermuscular adipose tissue (Inter‑MAT) increased by ≈+150 mm² in Pre‑RA (P < 0.001), while total adipose changes were non‑significant onlinelibrary.wiley.com+5pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+5onlinelibrary.wiley.com+5.

  • Conclusion: Muscle wasting and fat infiltration—markers of cachexia—are present in preclinical RA.

4. Thigh Muscle Composition Changes in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients During Weight Loss: Sex‑Specific Analysis Using OAI Data

Findings:

  • Both sexes showed improved muscle quality during weight loss, with decreases in intramuscular fat and increases in contractile tissue.

  • Female patients had smaller improvements—less reduction in intramuscular fat and smaller contractile increases compared to males.

 5. Unloading‑Induced Skeletal Interoception Alters Hypothalamic Signaling to Promote Bone Loss and Fat Metabolism

  • Authors: Guo Q, Chen N, Patel K, Wan M, Zheng J, Xu Cao, et al.

  • Journal: Advanced Science

  • Publication Date: December 15, 2023

  • DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305042 jci.org

Synopsis:

  • Using hindlimb unloading in mice to simulate unloading conditions (e.g., microgravity).

  • Reduction in skeletal PGE₂/EP4 leads to decreased hypothalamic NPY and TH expression, increasing sympathetic output.

  • Consequent bone loss and enhanced fat metabolism demonstrate central circuit involvement in skeletal and metabolic adaptation.

Conclusion

Prof. Xu Cao is not only suitable but ideal for the Best Researcher Award in the domain of interoception and musculoskeletal research. His work exemplifies the highest standards of innovation, scientific rigor, and translational relevance. His pioneering contributions to skeletal-brain communication have reshaped how we understand bone biology, pain, and systemic metabolism.