Journal of Spine

Odile Gabay Engel

Odile Gabay Engel, PhD
Researcher
Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University, Cartilage molecular genetics group National Institute of Health, USA

Biography

Dr. Gabay pursued her education in France where she received a PhD in physiology and patho-physiology at Paris VI University in 2007, following a master degree in cartilage and bone biomechanics at Paris VI University, Lariboisiere hospital.
She started her career after Medical school by conducting clinical studies in a pharmaceutical company, where she acquired a formation in pharmaceutical marketing as well in a Rheumatology Business Unit. She received a certificate in Virology in 2006 from Pasteur Institute, Paris. After a post-doctoral position in University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, she started to work at NIH, Bethesda, MD, as a researcher in the cartilage biology and orthopedic branch, cartilage molecular genetics. She graduated the class scientists teaching science in 2010, advanced scientific writing course and transgenic technologies. She participates to the redaction of scientific reviews worldwide in rheumatology area. She received a young investigator Award at the OARSI meeting and the OA fundamental research Award at the SFR meeting in 2009.

Research Interest

My research interest is focused on the most common disease in the rheumatology area: arthritis.
After studies on inflammation and signaling pathways involved in osteoarthritis (OA), I focused on OA and obesity, cartilage and subchondral bone under mechanical stress, and cartilage bio-engineering. I work with KnockOut or transgenic mice and am currently studying the role of the protein Sirt-1, a histone deacetylase known as a longevity factor, in arthritis. Conducting bench work is important only if you can link your work with clinical studies and diseases, and I am trying to develop a translational aspect in my research.