Journal of Osteoporosis and Physical Activity
Open Access

Thaqif El Khassawna

Biography

My main knowledge, experiences, skills, networks are in bone matrix biology, and to fill gaps of knowledge and skills by bringing talented collaborators to understand biomaterial behavior in systemic bone during healing of fractures in systemic bone diseases. My efforts in the last 10 years have been in molecular genetics and biotechnology, in the last 5 years I am more focused on biomaterial-aided bone healing converging cell/implant interaction and tissue engineering. I have been trained in the areas of tissue regeneration, molecular regulation, and biomaterials testing by some of the world’s best advisors at the Julius Wolf Institute in Berlin, Germany.

I have participated in developing several biomaterials for ACL-Injuries, osteoporotic fractures and dental implants. Most importantly, I provide the biocompatibility feedback especially in correlation to extracellular matrix and bone cells to material scientists. Overall, I bring more than 12 years of experience in the field of molecular genetics, tissue regeneration, biotechnology, Imaging and applied biomechanics and biomaterial testing. I earned my Doctorate in Molecular Genetics jointly at the Humboldt University and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, in Germany, Masters in Molecular Genetics from Gottfried Leibniz University of Hannover in Germany, and Bachelors in Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering. At the institute of experimental Trauma Surgery of the Justus Liebig University of Giessen in Germany, I pursued my post-doctoral work in the design of new animal models for osteoporosis and multiple myeloma in order to help designing and later testing of osteoconductive and osteoinductive biomaterials that aids cell regulation to promote healing of fractures. Currently I lead a team of 6 scientific staff researchers and 13 students in 5 projects supported by governmental and industry-acquired funding. I have published several scientific papers and serve as a peer reviewer at top peer reviewed journals. I also serve as honorary member of the scientific advisory board of Gel4med LLC a young start-up at the Harvard Launch Lab. I am enthusiastic about understanding the interaction of bone matrix and its microenvironment in systemic bone diseases. 

Research Interest

My research interest beside establishment of animal models are the understanding of osteocyte regulation at the vicinity of biomaterials, the osteoimmunological interaction, understanding differential genetic expression throughout bone healing phases in healthy and diseased bone especially in osteoporosis, immuno-decencies and neurofibromatosis type one.