Biography
Dr. Alford is a Research Assistant Professor in the Orthopaedic Research Laboratories. Dr. Alford earned her PhD in the department of cellular and molecular physiology at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey. After earning her doctorate, Dr. Alford did post-doctoral research in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Penn State and then at Duke University. Subsequently, Dr. Alford was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship through the Regenerative Sciences Training Program at the University of Michigan. She joined the faculty in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2006. Her research program focuses on identifying contributions of the bone tissue microenvironment to skeletal progenitor and osteoblast cellular physiology in the contexts of skeletal growth and regeneration. Her research program has been noted through an NIH Career Development Award (K01) and two Young Investigator Awards from the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research.
Areas of Interest
Research Interests
Biological potency of bone graft material in segmental bone defect healing; Effects of the local bone marrow and bone tissue niche on skeletal progenitor cell biology
Credentials
Ph.D., 2000, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Post-doctoral Research Fellow: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine 2001
Post-doctoral Research Fellow: Duke University 2003
Regenerative Medicine Fellowship: University of Michigan 2004-2006