ROBERT DANIEL BOWLES portrait
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery Operations
801-587-5400

Research Statement

Our lab is focused on engineering cell function to better control tissue development in engineered tissues. We use recent advances in CRISPR genome engineering and epigenetic control of gene expression to precisely control cell activity in engineered tissues. We are specifically interested in applying these techniques for use in tissue engineering, gene therapy, and immunoengineering to modulate tissue development and intervertebral disc degeneration for the treatment of back pain. Back pain is a leading cause of disability, which has a huge economic burden and causes great suffering to the patient.  Our key focus is modulating the interactions between the biomechanics of the intervertebral disc, the inflammatory environment in the intervertebral disc, and the peripheral nervous system in these patients.  

Research Keywords

  • Tissue Engineering
  • Orthopedics
  • Orthopedic regenerative medicine
  • Intervertebral Disc
  • Inflammation
  • Cell Engineering
  • CRISPR
  • Back Pain

Presentations

  • Multiplex Sequence-Specific CRISPR Gene Regulation for the Treatment of Back Pain, Rush University Medical College, Chicago, Illinois. Invited Talk/Keynote, Accepted, 05/08/2023.
  • Multiplex Sequence-Specific CRISPR Gene Regulation for the Treatment of Back Pain, Emory University School of Medicine/Georgia Tech. Invited Talk/Keynote, Accepted, 04/05/2023.
  • Multiplex Sequence-Specific CRISPR Gene Regulation for the Treatment of Back Pain, Wayne State, Detroit, Michigan. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 12/06/2022.
  • Multiplex Sequence-Specific CRISPR Gene Regulation for the Treatment of Back Pain, University of Pennsylvania, Institute of Regenerative Medicine. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 12/02/2022.
  • Multiplex CRISPR Gene Regulation for the Treatment of Back Pain. Musculoskeletal Biology and Bioengineering Gordon Research Conference. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 08/05/2022.
  • Multiplex CRISPR Gene Regulation for the Treatment of Back Pain. 26th Napa Pain Conference. Invited Talk/Keynote, Accepted, 08/19/2019.
  • Multiplex CRISPR Gene Regulation for the Treatment of Back Pain. ORS PSRS 5th International Spine Research Symposium. Oct 2019. Invited Talk/Keynote, Accepted, 07/10/2019.
  • Bowles, RD, (2018) Using Social Media for Science Outreach. ORS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 03/10/2018.
  • Ede, DR; Davidoff, N; Lam, L; Blitch, A; Au, D; Bowles, R; (2017) Towards Combining Cell Printing and CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Engineered IVD and Musculoskeletal Tissues, Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, Phoenix, AZ. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/12/2017.
  • Stover, JD; Lawrence, B; Bethell, C; Zitnay, J; Weiss, J; Bowles, RD; (2017) Degenerative IVDs Sensitize Sensory Neurons to Mechanical Loading at Physiological Strain Levels, Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, Phoenix, AZ. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/12/2017.
  • Stover, JD; Lawrence, B; Bowles, RD. (2017) Epigenome Editing of Nociceptive Neurons Abolishes Degenerative IVD Induced Sensitization. 63rd Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, San Diego, CA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 03/20/2017.
  • Bowles, RD. (2017) CRISPR Systems and Their Potential for Cell and Gene Therapy Applications for Musculoskeletal Pathology. New England Medical Association Annual Meeting, Park City, UT. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 03/08/2017.
  • Stover, JD; Lawrence, B; Bowles, RD. (2017) Epigenome Editing of Nociceptive Neurons Abolishes Degenerative IVD Induced Sensitization. 63rd Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, San Diego, CA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 11/16/2016.
  • Bowles, RD. (2016) Multiplex Sequence-Specific CRISPR Gene Regulation for the Treatment of Back Pain. Orthopaedic Grand Rounds, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 11/09/2016.
  • Farhang, N; Brunger, JM; Stover, JD, Thakore, PI; Lawrence, B; Guilack, F; Gersbach, CA; Setton, LA; Bowles, RD. (2016) Epigenome Editing Protects Human Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Inflammatory Cytokines While Maintaining their Therapeutic Properties. Biomedical Engineering Society Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/06/2016.
  • Levis, H; Farhang, N; Yin, X; Stover, JD: Lawrence, B, Bowles, RD. (2016) CRISPR Epigenome Editing to Promote Osteogenic Differentiation in Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Biomedical Engineering Society Meeting, Podium Presentation, Minneapolis, MN. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/06/2016.
  • Ede, D; Blitch, A; Davidoff, N; Farhang, N; Brooks, B; Bowles, RD. (2016) Microfluidic Flow Cell Array Printing for Engineered IVD and Musculoskeletal Tissues. Biomedical Engineering Society Meeting, Podium Presentation, Minneapolis, MN. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/06/2016.
  • Stover, JD; Lawrence, B; Bowles, RD. (2016) Epigenome Editing of Nociceptive Neurons Abolishes Degenerative IVD Induced Sensitization. Biomedical Engineering Society Meeting, Podium Presentation, Minneapolis, MN. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/06/2016.
  • Bowles, RD. (2016) Epigenome Editing for the Treatment of Back Pain. Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 08/29/2016.
  • Farhang, N; Brunger, JM; Stover, JD, Thakore, PI; Lawrence, B; Guilack, F; Gersbach, CA; Setton, LA; Bowles, RD. (2016) CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. 62nd Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 03/06/2016.
  • Blitch, A; Davidoff, N; Farhang, N; Brooks, B; Bowles, RD. (2016) Microfluidic Flow Cell Array Printing for Engineered IVD and Musculoskeletal Tissues. 62nd Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, Orlando, FL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 03/06/2016.
  • Stover, JD; Lawrence, B; Bowles, RD. (2016) Degenerative IVDs Sensitize Sensory Neurons to Heat Stimuli via IL-6/AKAP/TRPV1 Pathway. 62nd Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, Orlando, FL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 03/06/2016.
  • Bowles, RD. (2016) Imaging Pain in Preclinical Models. ORS 2016 Spine Section Meeting, Orlando, FL. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 03/04/2016.
  • Farhang, N; Brunger, JM; Stover, JD, Thakore, PI; Lawrence, B; Guilack, F; Gersbach, CA; Setton, LA; Bowles, RD. (2015) Epigenetic CRISPRi Cell Engineering for Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. ORS PSRS 3rd International Spine Research Symposium, Philadelphia, PA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2015.
  • Blitch, A; Davidoff, N; Farhang, N; Brooks, B; Bowles, RD. (2016) Microfluidic Flow Cell Array Printing for Engineered IVD and Musculoskeletal Tissues. 62nd Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, Orlando, FL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 11/2015.
  • Stover, JD; Lawrence, B; Bowles, RD. (2016) Degenerative IVDs Sensitize Sensory Neurons to Heat Stimuli via IL-6/AKAP/TRPV1 Pathway. 62nd Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Podium Presentation, Orlando, FL . Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 11/2015.
  • Farhang, N; Brunger, JM; Stover, JD, Thakore, PI; Lawrence, B; Guilack, F; Gersbach, CA; Setton, LA; Bowles, RD. (2016) CRISPR Epigenome Editing for Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. 62nd Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Accepted, 11/2015.
  • Blitch, A; Davidoff, N; Farhang, N; Brooks, B; Bowles, RD. (2015) Microfluidic Flow Cell Array Printing for Engineered IVD and Musculoskeletal Tissues. ORS PSRS 3rd International Spine Research Symposium, Philadelphia, PA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2015.
  • Stover, JD; Lawrence, B; Bowles, RD. (2015) Degenerative IVDs Sensitize Sensory Neurons to Heat Stimuli via IL-6/AKAP/TRPV1 Pathway. ORS PSRS 3rd International Spine Research Symposium, Podium Presentation, Philadelphia, PA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 11/2015.
  • Farhang, N; Brunger, JM; Stover, JD, Thakore, PI; Lawrence, B; Guilack, F; Gersbach, CA; Setton, LA; Bowles, RD. (2015) Epigenetic CRISPRi Cell Engineering for Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Biomedical Engineering Society Meeting, Tampa, FL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/2015.
  • Stover, JD; Bah, I; Kotelsky, A; Buckley, MR; Lawrence, B; Bowles, RD. (2015) IL-6 is Primary Regulator of Sensory Neuron Sensitization to Heat Stimuli by Degenerative Disc Tissue. Biomedical Engineering Society Meeting, Podium Presentation, Tampa, FL. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/2015.
  • Farhang, N; Brunger, JM; Stover, JD, Thakore, PI; Lawrence, B; Guilack, F; Gersbach, CA; Setton, LA; Bowles, RD. (2015) CRISPRi Immunomodulation for Tissue Engineering/Stem Cell Therapies Targeting Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. TERMIS World Congress, Podium Presentation, Boston, MA. Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 09/2015.

Research Groups

  • Hunter Levis, Graduate Student. 08/25/2020 - present.
  • Christian Lewis, Graduate Student. 08/25/2020 - present.
  • Josh Stover, Postdoc. 01/01/2020 - present.
  • Mathew Tronne, Graduate Student. 08/26/2019 - present.
  • Jacob Weston, Graduate Student. 08/25/2016 - present.
  • David Ede, Graduate Student. 01/01/2016 - present.
  • Xue Yin, Technician. 09/16/2015 - present.
  • Saranne Ja’Kel Cook , Graduate Student. 09/01/2015 - present.
  • Paul Wissler, Undergraduate Student. 09/01/2015 - present.
  • Leann Lam, Undergraduate Student. 09/01/2015 - present.

Publications

  • Farhang N (2021). Improving Cell Therapy Survival and Anabolism in Harsh Musculoskeletal Disease Environments. Tissue engineering. Part B, Reviews. Vol. 26, 348366348-366. Published, 09/01/2021.
  • Stover JD (2021). Degenerative IVD conditioned media and acidic pH sensitize sensory neurons to cyclic tensile strain. Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society. Vol. 39, 119212031192-1203. Published, 09/01/2021.
  • Farhang N, Davis B & Weston J (2021). Synergistic CRISPRa-Regulated Chondrogenic Extracellular Matrix Deposition Without Exogenous Growth Factors. Tissue engineering. Part A. Vol. 26, 116911791169-1179. Published, 09/01/2021.
  • Farhang N, Davis B, Weston J, Ginley-Hidinger M, Gertz J & Bowles RD (2021). Synergistic CRISPRa-Regulated Chondrogenic Extracellular Matrix Deposition Without Exogenous Growth Factors. Tissue engineering. Part A. Vol. 26, 1169-1179. Published, 02/01/2021.
  • Farhang N, Davis B, Weston J, Ginley-Hidinger M, Gertz J & Bowles RD (2021). Synergistic CRISPRa-Regulated Chondrogenic Extracellular Matrix Deposition Without Exogenous Growth Factors. Tissue engineering. Part A. Vol. 26, 1169-1179. Published, 02/01/2021.
  • Farhang N, Silverman L & Bowles RD (2020). Improving Cell Therapy Survival and Anabolism in Harsh Musculoskeletal Disease Environments. Tissue engineering. Part B, Reviews. Vol. 26, 348-366. Published, 12/01/2020.
  • Farhang N, Silverman L & Bowles RD (2020). Improving Cell Therapy Survival and Anabolism in Harsh Musculoskeletal Disease Environments. Tissue engineering. Part B, Reviews. Vol. 26, 348-366. Published, 12/01/2020.
  • Stover JD & Farhang N (2020). Multiplex Epigenome Editing of Dorsal Root Ganglion Neuron Receptors Abolishes Redundant Interleukin 6, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, and Interleukin 1β Signaling by the Degenerative Intervertebral Disc. Human gene therapy. Vol. 30, 114711601147-1160. Published, 03/01/2020.
  • Farhang N, Ginley-Hidinger M & Berrett KC (2020). Lentiviral CRISPR Epigenome Editing of Inflammatory Receptors as a Gene Therapy Strategy for Disc Degeneration. Human gene therapy. Vol. 30, 116111751161-1175. Published, 03/01/2020.
  • Farhang N, Ginley-Hidinger M, Berrett KC, Gertz J, Lawrence B & Bowles RD (2020). Lentiviral CRISPR Epigenome Editing of Inflammatory Receptors as a Gene Therapy Strategy for Disc Degeneration. Human gene therapy. Vol. 30, 1161-1175. Published, 03/01/2020.
  • Stover JD, Farhang N, Lawrence B & Bowles RD (2020). Multiplex Epigenome Editing of Dorsal Root Ganglion Neuron Receptors Abolishes Redundant Interleukin 6, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, and Interleukin 1β Signaling by the Degenerative Intervertebral Disc. Human gene therapy. Vol. 30, 1147-1160. Published, 03/01/2020.
  • Niloofar Farhang (2020). Improving Cell Therapy Survival and Anabolism in Harsh Musculoskeletal Disease Environments. Tissue Engineering. Accepted, 02/17/2020.
  • Joshua Stover (2020). Degenerative IVDs Sensitize Sensory Neurons to Cyclic Tensile Strain. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. Accepted, 02/11/2020.
  • Farhang N, Ginley-Hidinger M, Berrett KC, Gertz J, Lawrence B & Bowles RD (2019). Lentiviral CRISPR Epigenome Editing of Inflammatory Receptors as a Gene Therapy Strategy for Disc Degeneration. Human gene therapy. Vol. 30, 1161-1175. Published, 10/01/2019.
  • Stover JD, Farhang N, Lawrence B & Bowles RD (2019). Multiplex Epigenome Editing of Dorsal Root Ganglion Neuron Receptors Abolishes Redundant Interleukin 6, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, and Interleukin 1β Signaling by the Degenerative Intervertebral Disc. Human gene therapy. Vol. 30, 1147-1160. Published, 10/01/2019.
  • Ede D & Davidoff N (2019). Microfluidic Flow Cell Array for Controlled Cell Deposition in Engineered Musculoskeletal Tissues. Tissue engineering. Part C, Methods. Vol. 24, 546556546-556. Published, 06/01/2019.
  • Ede D, Davidoff N, Blitch A, Farhang N & Bowles RD (2019). Microfluidic Flow Cell Array for Controlled Cell Deposition in Engineered Musculoskeletal Tissues. Tissue engineering. Part C, Methods. Vol. 24, 546-556. Published, 06/01/2019.
  • Ede D, Davidoff N, Blitch A, Farhang N & Bowles RD (2019). Microfluidic Flow Cell Array for Controlled Cell Deposition in Engineered Musculoskeletal Tissues. Tissue engineering. Part C, Methods. Vol. 24, 546-556. Published, 06/01/2019.
  • Zitnay JL, Reese SP & Tran G (2018). Fabrication of dense anisotropic collagen scaffolds using biaxial compression. Acta biomaterialia. Vol. 65, 768776-87. Published, 10/01/2018.
  • Zitnay JL, Reese SP, Tran G, Farhang N, Bowles RD & Weiss JA (2018). Fabrication of dense anisotropic collagen scaffolds using biaxial compression. Acta biomaterialia. Vol. 65, 76-87. Published, 10/01/2018.
  • Stover JD, Farhang N & Berrett KC (2018). CRISPR Epigenome Editing of AKAP150 in DRG Neurons Abolishes Degenerative IVD-Induced Neuronal Activation. Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy. Vol. 25, 201420272014-2027. Published, 05/01/2018.
  • Stover JD, Farhang N, Berrett KC, Gertz J, Lawrence B & Bowles RD (2018). CRISPR Epigenome Editing of AKAP150 in DRG Neurons Abolishes Degenerative IVD-Induced Neuronal Activation. Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy. Vol. 25, 2014-2027. Published, 05/01/2018.
  • Farhang N, Brunger JM, Stover JD & Thakore PI (2018). * CRISPR-Based Epigenome Editing of Cytokine Receptors for the Promotion of Cell Survival and Tissue Deposition in Inflammatory Environments. Tissue engineering. Part A. Vol. 23, 738749738-749. Published, 04/01/2018.
  • Farhang N, Brunger JM, Stover JD, Thakore PI, Lawrence B, Guilak F, Gersbach CA, Setton LA & Bowles RD (2018). * CRISPR-Based Epigenome Editing of Cytokine Receptors for the Promotion of Cell Survival and Tissue Deposition in Inflammatory Environments. Tissue engineering. Part A. Vol. 23, 738-749. Published, 04/01/2018.
  • Krupkova, O; Cambria, E; Besse, L; Besse, A; Bowles, RD; Wuertz-Kozak, K. (2018) The Potential of CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing for the Study of Intervertebral Disc Pathologies. JOR Spine. In Press. Published, 03/15/2018.
  • Newman, HR; Bowles, RD; Buckley, MR. (2018) Viscoelastic Heating of Insulated Bovine Intervertebral Disc. JOR Spine. Epub Ahead of Print, March 9 2018. Published, 03/09/2018.
  • Bowles RD (2017). Biomaterials for intervertebral disc regeneration and repair. Biomaterials. Vol. 129, 546754-67. Published, 12/01/2017.
  • Farhang, N; Stover, JD; Lawrence, B; Bowles, RD. Gene Editing Tools. (2017) Comprehensive Biomaterials II. Ed. Ducheyne, Healy, Hutmacher, Grainger, Kirkpatrick, Elsevier Press, 2017. Published, 01/30/2017.
  • Farhang, N; Brunger, JM; Stover, JD, Thakore, PI; Lawrence, B; Guilack, F; Gersbach, CA; Setton, LA; Bowles, RD. (2017) CRISPR-Based Epigenome Editing of Cytokine Receptors for the Promotion of Cell Survival and Tissue Deposition in Inflammatory Environments. Journal of Tissue Engineering Part A , 23 (15-16):738-749. Published, 01/17/2017.
  • Farhang, N; Stover, JD; Lawrence, B; Bowles, RD. Pathophysiology of Disc Disease: Disc Degeneration. Biological Approaches to Spinal Disc Repair and Regeneration for Clinicians. Ed. Hartl, Bonassar, Thieme Medical Publishers, In press. Published, 12/20/2016.
  • Bowles RD, Karikari IO, VanDerwerken DN, Sinclair MS, Bell RD, Riebe KJ, Huebner JL, Kraus VB, Sempowski GD & Setton LA (2016). In vivo luminescent imaging of NF-κB activity and NF-κB-related serum cytokine levels predict pain sensitivities in a rodent model of peripheral neuropathy. European journal of pain (London, England). Vol. 20, 365-76. Published, 09/01/2016.
  • Mwangi TK, Bowles RD, Tainter DM, Bell RD, Kaplan DL & Setton LA (2016). Synthesis and characterization of silk fibroin microparticles for intra-articular drug delivery. (pp. 7-14). Vol. 485. International journal of pharmaceutics. Published, 01/01/2016.
  • Grunert P, Gebhard HH, Bowles RD, James AR, Potter HG, Macielak M, Hudson KD, Alimi M, Ballon DJ, Aronowitz E, Tsiouris AJ, Bonassar LJ & Härtl R (2014). Tissue-engineered intervertebral discs: MRI results and histology in the rodent spine. Journal of neurosurgery. Spine. Vol. 20, 443-51. Published, 06/01/2014.
  • Bowles RD, Mata BA, Bell RD, Mwangi TK, Huebner JL, Kraus VB & Setton LA (2014). In vivo luminescence imaging of NF-κB activity and serum cytokine levels predict pain sensitivities in a rodent model of osteoarthritis. Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.). Vol. 66, 637-46. Published, 05/01/2014.