Holland Bone & Joint Program

Administrative assistant

Cassandra Cheng
Phone: 416-480-6100 x63537
Email: cassandra.cheng@sunnybrook.ca

Education:

• BSc Hons, Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
• PhD, Cell & Developmental Biology, University of British Columbia, Canada
• Postdoctoral fellow, Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada

Appointments and Affiliations:

• Scientist, Biological Sciences Platform, Holland Bone and Joint Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Assistant Professor, Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto

Research Foci:

• Musculoskeletal system
• Connective tissues
• Stem cells
• Regeneration
• Aging

Research Summary:

Dr. Scott’s research program is focused on interrogating the mechanisms that govern tendon and other musculoskeletal tissue development, regeneration and renewal, with the ultimate goal of improving the maintenance and healing capacity of these structures. Recent advances have uncovered critical roles for Mesenchymal Progenitor cells in these processes, a cell population that serves as a musculoskeletal tissue stem cell reserve, but also provides a pro-regenerative microenvironment for other tissue resident stem cells. The fate and function of embryonic, adult and aged Mesenchymal Progenitor cells are examined in health and disease to build a comprehensive understanding of how these cells can be manipulated for therapeutic purposes, including regenerative medicine approaches.

Selected Publications:

See current publications list at PubMed.

Related News and Stories:

• Scott, R. W., Arostegui, M., Schweitzer, R., Rossi, F. M. V. & Underhill, T. M. Hic1 Defines Quiescent Mesenchymal Progenitor Subpopulations with Distinct Functions and Fates in Skeletal Muscle Regeneration. Cell Stem Cell 25, 797-813 e799, doi:10.1016/j.stem.2019.11.004 (2019).
• Arostegui, M., Scott, R. W. & Underhill, T. M. Hic1 identifies a specialized mesenchymal progenitor population in the embryonic limb responsible for bone superstructure formation. Cell Reports 42 (2023).
• Arostegui, M., Scott, R. W., Böse, K. & Underhill, T. M. Cellular taxonomy of Hic1+ mesenchymal progenitor derivatives in the limb: from embryo to adult. Nature Communications 13, doi:10.1038/s41467-022-32695-1 (2022).
• Soliman, H. et al. Pathogenic Potential of Hic1-Expressing Cardiac Stromal Progenitors. Cell Stem Cell 26, 205-220.e208, doi:10.1016/j.stem.2019.12.008 (2020).
• Abbasi, S. et al. Distinct Regulatory Programs Control the Latent Regenerative Potential of Dermal Fibroblasts during Wound Healing. Cell Stem Cell 27, 396-412.e396, doi:10.1016/j.stem.2020.07.008 (2020).

Related Links:

• Google scholar page
• U of T Profile