Nyah is a fourth-year undergraduate student here at Vanderbilt University who joined the Peck Lab in the Spring of 2021. Originally from Michigan, Nyah came to Nashville to pursue a higher education that would prep her for entering the medical field. Majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society, she plans on attending Diagnostic Medical Sonography school after graduation to become a registered Sonographer. Inspired by a personal experience with a family member with Heterotopic Ossification, Nyah joined the Peck Lab with the goal of learning more and quickly became interested in the other various projects in the lab, including research involving neurodegenerative diseases and their effects on bone health. Outside of the lab, Nyah enjoys working out, trying new things, and spending time with her puppy, friends, and family.
The Duvall lab develops polymeric biomaterials for tissue repair, drug delivery systems for targeted and sustained therapeutic delivery, and engineered RNAs and proteins for genetic medicines. Technologies are being developed and applied for a range of conditions including tissue repair, osteoarthritis, and cancer, including bone metastasis.
Visit the Duvall Lab website at: https://www.duvall-lab.com/.
Tara graduated from Willamette University in 2021 with a B.S. in Physics. Tara is now a biochemistry graduate student in the Peck lab after joining the QCB program at Vanderbilt in August 2021. Tara’s research focuses on better understanding how extracellular matrix dysregulation in synthesis, deposition, and degeneration impacts musculoskeletal health, specifically in the intervertebral disc. Outside of the lab, Tara enjoys baking, CrossFit, and spending time with her friends and cat Miso.
Peyton is an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University seeking a major in biochemistry. He is a native of Hendersonville, Tennessee, and is conducting research under the mentorship of Dr. Sun Peck. Peyton’s research focuses on understanding the role of the extracellular matrix in musculoskeletal biology. He plans on pursuing a career within the medical field. Outside of the lab Peyton enjoys working out, reading, and playing with his dogs.
Sophia is a research assistant in the Peck Lab and joined as an undergraduate student in 2021. She graduated from Vanderbilt with a B.S. in Engineering Science and Medicine, Health, & Society. Her long-term plans are to attend medical school and become an OB/GYN. Sophia spends her time outside of the lab going to cycling classes, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.
Dr. Moore-Lotridge is a translational scientist and a medical educator dedicated to undergraduate, graduate, and resident education. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Moore-Lotridge received her Bachelor’s degree at Ohio Northern University, and PhD from Vanderbilt University in Pharmacology. As part of her graduate studies, Dr. Moore-Lotridge’s work focused on the pathobiology of soft tissue calcification and therapeutic approaches aimed at preventing its occurrence following traumatic injury. Complimenting these studies, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Orthopaedics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Moore-Lotridge conducted clinical research focused on understanding the bodies molecular response to injury and the impact on musculoskeletal repair and function. These studies have covered a variety of pathologies ranging from musculoskeletal infections, focused investigations on surgical intervention, and traumatic injuries.
As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a member of the Translational Orthopaedics Research Group alongside Dr. Jonathan Schoenecker, Dr. Moore-Lotridge’s research is focused on improving the care and outcome of pediatric and adult patients with musculoskeletal trauma and infections. This research incudes elements of both retrospective and prospective studies, complemented by translational research in small animal models in order to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind adverse medical and musculoskeletal outcomes.
As part of these research goals, Dr. Moore-Lotridge is active in mentoring undergraduate students, medical students, and residents in both the classroom and laboratory. Beginning in 2022, Dr. Moore-Lotridge along with Dr. Roy Coronado, developed and now directs the Medical Student Summer Research Program in Orthopaedic Surgery. This 8-week immersive program recruits top-tier medical students from across the country interested in orthopaedics to conduct research and gain exposure.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Orthopaedics Clinical Research, 2018-2020, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Ph.D. Pharmacology, 2018, Vanderbilt University
B.S. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 2013, Ohio Northern University, Ada Ohio
Working in this lab has really given me a lot of confidence in my abilities. I feel very fortunate I’ve been given the opportunity to go from solid foundations to empowerment to change and enhance the directions I’ve been given, from PCR genotyping to colony management and beyond. My understanding of not just bones but aspects of the healing process have grown in ways I would never have expected. Feeling the heart-pumping excitement of realizing you’re a part of a group that’s discovering puzzle pieces necessary for survival never before found by others is without compare.
Rachel McKee is a research histologist living and working in Nashville, TN. She graduated from Indiana University-Purdue and became an ASCP board-certified histotechnologist in 2005. Rachel worked in a hematopathology clinical laboratory prior to joining the Schoenecker lab in 2021. Her current research focuses on the role of coagulation and inflammation processes in orthopaedic healing. Outside of the lab, Rachel is a visual artist whose practice includes painting, photography, and ceramic sculpture.
Jeremy graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2019 and worked at Cornell and Roswell Park Cancer Institute before attending Vanderbilt. He is interested in how cancers initiate, and the molecular mechanisms of how they begin this process, especially in difficult environments. He joined Vanderbilt IGP in fall 2021, and is currently a graduate student in the Rachelle Johnson lab, where he will be researching PTHrP and its role in breast cancer tumor growth and metastasis to bone.