Dr. Bonewald’s research focuses on the biology and function of the osteocyte. At present there are two major focus areas, the first is on crosstalk between osteocyte and muscle. Muscle secretes factors that maintain osteocyte viability and function and conversely osteocytes produce factors that support myogenesis and muscle function. These factors are being identified and their functions characterized. A second focus of the lab is the role of the osteocyte in calcium homeostasis under calcium demanding conditions such as during pregnancy. The mechanisms by which osteocytes can remove and replace calcium in their microenvironment is being examined. Trainees can learn osteocyte and muscle cell culture, isolation of primary osteocytes and muscle satellite cells, muscle contractility, application of fluid flow shear stress, mitochondrial imaging, loading and unloading of transgenic animals, in addition to standard molecular approaches and analyses.