News
The lab is back in full swing for the 2023-24 academic year. We celebrated the end of summer with dim sum and welcomed new lab members Matthew Yee DDS 26, Jun Tae Huh from Wake Forest University and Ben Kheyfets from Cornell University.
(left to right) Matthew Yee, Ikue Tosa, Benjamin Kheyfets, Gan Zhou, and Jun Tae Huh
Dr Jun Tae Huh
Benjamin Kheyfets
Matthew Yee
Angela Ruscitto has had quite the journey. It is bitter sweet to say goodbye and we will miss her so much! We are proud that she moves on to lead her own research team with a focus on osteoarthritis at Regeneron.
COVID can’t bring us down. After our lab shutdown, isolation, and a long delay of hiring we are finally back full time in person. We welcome new lab members Ikue Tosa, Gan Zhou, Ingrid Safina, Kira Zixin Chen, Suh Yeon Oh and Jimmy Woo Sung Chang. This calls for sangria!
New York City's most talented academic entrepreneurs showcased their work to venture capitalists, angel investors, and biopharma business development executives at the Alexandria Center for Life Science. Embree Lab and Wnt Scientific presented during an exciting day of rapid-fire business pitches, roundtable discussions, distinguished keynote speakers and networking with biomedical and scientific innovators from New York City's world class academic research centers.
Dr. Chirag Raval (Wnt Scientific), Dr. Millie Embree (Columbia University), and Dr. Mo Chen (CEO Wnt Scientific).
Our team: Dr. Mo Chen (CEO, Wnt Scientific), Dr. Millie Embree (Columbia University), Dr. Janet Lee (President, Subito Scientific), and Dr. Chirag Raval (Wnt Scientific).
WNT SCIENTIFIC
Wnt Scientific is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company that aims to therapeutically harness endogenous fibrocartilage stem cells to regenerate the temporomandibular joint. Our approach offers the promise of a minimally invasive, local regenerative treatment for TMJ osteoarthritis that alleviates pain and restores function.
UNMET NEED
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the most frequently used joint in human body. It is a complex joint system critical for dental occlusion, mastication, and speech. The TMJ is comprised of a network of muscles, ligaments, and a fibrocartilaginous disc and condyle. TMJ osteoarthritis (OA) is debilitating and compromise quality of life. The symptoms of TMJ OA are pain and low grade inflammation, restricted jaw movements, jaw growth defects, and facial asymmetry. TMJ diseases afflict over 10 million Americans at an annual cost of ~$4 billion. Current treatments for TMJ OA are typically two-fold extremes, involving either pain management or invasive surgeries, including total joint replacements with high failure rates.
TECHNOLOGY
Exploiting the regenerative capabilities of resident stem cells to repair TMJ tissues represents a minimally invasive stem cell-based treatment for TMJ OA. We have identified TMJ fibrocartilage stem cells (FCSCs) that reside in the TMJ condyle superficial zone. Dr. Mildred Embree, Director of TMJ Biology laboratory at Columbia University and Dr. Mo Chen, founder of Wnt Scientific LLC, have defined the signals regulating FCSCs’ fate and co-developed StemGEL, a breakthrough, minimally invasive TMJ OA regenerative therapy that will alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and restore joint function.
StemGEL formula combines stem cell signaling modulator, SOST, which induces local stem cells to regenerate cartilage and reduces inflammation, and a hydrogel carrier that sustained-releases SOST. StemGEL is pre-packed in a syringe and shipped to hospitals and dental offices. StemGEL-TMJ offers the following advantages over other treatments: 1) Administered chairside during routine dental visits with no down time; 2) Delivered locally to reduce inflammation and stimulate natural regenerative process; 3) Alleviates joint pain and restores jaw function, so patients can comfortably eat and speak.
DEVELOPMENT STATUS
Sponsored by the non-dilutive grants, we have identified the therapeutic target and developed sustained release local injection formulation. Our preclinical data demonstrated that the SOST injection induces stem cells to regenerate cartilage and ameliorates TMJ OA. The company anticipates to complete the ADME studies and file IND in 2 years.
TEAM
Mo Chen, PhD, MBA , founder and CEO of Wnt Scientific, has 20 years’ experience in musculoskeletal research. His research in osteoarthritis was featured by ABC news and Washington Post and described as the “scientist who discovered how osteoarthritis destroys cartilage.” Dr. Chen is a co-inventor of StemGEL.
Mildred Embree, MS, DMD, PhD, is the Dr. Edwin S Robinson Assistant Professor of Dental Medicine in orthodontics and is director of the TMJ Biology and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory at Columbia University. Dr. Embree is an orthodontist and cell biologist with over 15 years of experience in the field of osteoarthritis and TMJ. She is a co-inventor of StemGEL and a co-Founder and Scientific Advisory Board Chair of Wnt Scientific.
Edward Puzas, PhD, former president of Orthopaedic Research Society, is scientific advisor of Wnt Scientific.
Janet Lee, PhD, president of Subito Scientific and former director of Roche, is regulatory advisor of the company. She brings a decade of drug discovery and early clinical development expertise.
Contact Info
Wnt Scientific LLC
423 West 127thStreet
New York, NY, 10027
Mo Chen PhD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
mo.chen@wntscientific.com
On June 6, 2019 the NYU Center for Skeletal & Craniofacial Biology held their 2019 Scientific Symposium co-sponsered by the NYU Lagone Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Orthopaedic Research Society. Dr. Ruscitto was presented with the Young Investigator Award based on her oral presentation.
Orthopaedic Research Society Young Investigator Awardees.
Dr. Angela Ruscitto and Dr. Millie Embree (left to right).
Dinner with speakers and NYU Center for Skeletal & Craniofacial Biology Advisory Board.
Millie speaks during osteoarthritis session.
Dear members of the CDM community,
I am pleased to announce that Millie Embree, MS, DMD, PhD, has been named the Dr. Edwin S. Robinson Assistant Professor of Dental Medicine (Orthodontics), effective April 1, 2019. The honor of an endowed professorship, bestowed by the University Trustees, reflects Dr. Embree’s achievements and expresses our admiration for her work.
As many of you know, Millie is a nationally recognized scientist and mentor who inspires emerging dentist-scientists.
Millie joined the faculty in 2010 and has been assistant professor of dental medicine and principal investigator in the TMJ Biology and Regenerative Medicine Lab since 2014. In a relatively short period of time, she has developed research with broad translational potential—she discovered a type of stem cell in the tempomandibular joint that can make new cartilage and repair damaged joints. These regenerating adult fibrocartilage stem cells may help treat musculoskeletal diseases, including TMJ osteoarthritis.
As a scholar, Millie has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed studies, reviews, and book chapters and has been cited more than 1,400 times. She serves on the executive board of the American Association of Dental Research and holds a provisional patent for an osteoarthritis treatment with the goal of developing minimally invasive stem cell-based regenerative therapies for patients with musculoskeletal diseases.
Millie has earned numerous honors for her own scholarship, but just as important, students she has mentored have achieved prestigious national research awards from the AADR and the AAMOS.
Please join me in congratulating Millie on her new appointment.
Christian S. Stohler, DMD, Dr.Med.Dent.
Professor and Dean, College of Dental Medicine
Senior Vice President, CUIMC
Dr. Mallory Morel earned her DDS degree from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Morel continues her journey as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery resident at Jacobi Medical Center.
On Wednesday, May 1st, teams of Columbia University scientists, engineers, clinicians, and students, will pitch their envisioned technologies and business opportunities to a panel of judges and invited guests for potential commercialization support. This is the culminating event of a semester long technology commercialization "bootcamp" during which teams have been working to develop their cutting-edge biomedical technologies and research from the lab and into the market.
The College of Dental Medicine's annual Birnberg Research Program is a 2-day event open to the entire school community, featuring the Birnberg Lecture, student scientific poster presentations, and the presentation of the Birnberg Research Medal Award of the Dental Alumni of Columbia University for Excellence in Dental Research.
(left to right) Dr. Evie Lalla, Dr. Fatemand Momen-Heravi, Dr. Dana Wolf, Dr. Millie Embree.
