Svenja Illien-Junger
(they/them)
Principal Investigator
Hometown:
Düsseldorf, Germany
Biography
Dr. Illien-Junger is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Orthopaedics at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Illien-Junger’s focus is on intervertebral disc research, specifically addressing the associated cellular and molecular signaling in aging and injury related intervertebral disc degeneration. Another focus is on the roles of nutrition, injury, and mechanical loading on intervertebral disc degeneration and repair. After receiving her PhD in Cellular and Biomedical Science, in Davos, Switzerland, Dr. Illien-Junger moved to the United States to pursue her research career in academia. First at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York City, as Postdoctoral Fellow and later as Assistant Professor. In August 2019, Dr. Illien-Junger joined the Department of Orthopaedics at Emory University.
Education and Training
BS Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany, 2003
MS Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany, 2005
PhD Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, Universität Bern & AO Research Institute Switzerland, 2010
Postdoc, AO Research Institute 2010
Postdoc, Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 2014
Languages
English
German
Honors and Awards:
2020 Winner New Investigator Recognition Award (NIRA) (role: Senior-author, first author: Zhang C) Title: Phlpp1 Regulates Cellularity And Matrix Homeostasis In Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Paper #138; Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society, February 8-11 2020, Phoenix, AZ
2019 Poster Award (role: Senior Author, First author: Devorah M Natelson) Title: Sex Dependent Effects Of Leptin Receptor Deficiency And Western Diet On The Spine In A Type 2 Diabetes Mouse Model; 5th International ORS-PSRS (Philadelphia Spine Research Symposium) November 4-7 2019 Skytop, PA
2018 Poster Award (role: senior author, first author: Divya Krishnamoorthy) Title: Dietary Advanced Glycation End Product Consumption Leads to Mechanical Stiffening of Murine Intervertebral Discs; Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society, New Orleans, LA March 09-13 2018
2017 Early Stage Investigator Award (role: senior author, first author: George Zhou); Title: Phlpp1 in Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis During IVD Growth and Degeneration; 4th ORS/PSRS International Spine Research Symposium, Lake Harmony, PA, October 23-27, 2017
2016 Poster Award (role: senior author, first author William Kindschuh) Title: Effects of Long-Term Exposure of Exogenous Advanced Glycation Endproducts on Vertebral Bone Microarchitecture; Sex-Differences on Structure Derived Mechanical Properties. Global Spine Congress / World Forum for Spine Research, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 13-16
2016 Poster Award (role: senior author; first author: William Kindschuh) Title: Sex-Dependent Effects of Dietary Advanced Glycation Endproducts on Vertebral Bone; Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Orlando, FL, March 5-8 2016
2011 Podium Award (first author) Title: Protective effect of combined anti-inflammatory and anti-AGE drug treatments on intervertebral discs in mice with insulin depletion; Philadelphia Spine Research Society; Philadelphia, PA, November 16-18 2011
2009 Young Researcher Award 2009, AO Spine, Europe (AOSEU; first author) Title: Effects of limited nutrition and high frequency load on intervertebral discs; presented at the “World Forum for Spine Research” 2010 – The Intervertebral Disc, Montreal, Canada, 5-8 July, 2010
2008 Podium Award (first author) Title: Effect of limited nutrition on Intervertebral Disc cells under “physiological” loading – a 21 day culture; ECM IX; Davos June 15-18 2008