https://illien-junger-lab.com/new-page-2 daily 0.75 2026-01-05 https://illien-junger-lab.com/home-1 daily 1.0 2025-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1631191302703-5BG1JTSTIOX83LOUNW7U/Degeneration-merged.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/3b80d012-8097-4ce9-b9ba-afb28efba2c7/Lab_Summer-2025_1.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://illien-junger-lab.com/our-team daily 0.75 2024-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/558ed92f-9c93-45c0-98ed-289c1837cd1d/Phlpp+nanoparticles.png Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/0451601d-7bda-4f4b-a445-43679a87d687/Biomech.png Publications https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/dfbc3e82-ae0b-46d4-b612-e2fa270252c3/Phlpp+inhibitor+study+design.png Publications https://illien-junger-lab.com/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2023-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1631280732410-G5YY1HSHVHUO77M5IUWP/Changli.png Changli Zhang https://illien-junger-lab.com/new-page daily 0.75 2025-05-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/25fdbb43-d879-4616-9774-933f8c56c5dd/Biplab+ISSLS.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/27e646ac-9f1d-46b7-a029-117835b6ac66/IMG_3073.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/bb4c9d8e-9101-4073-b2bd-9f37ddc6f24e/WhatsApp+Image+2025-02-13+at+5.42.34+PM+%284%29.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/3694ffef-dcbd-40b2-ba94-c82af37f7afa/Biplab+and+Tushar+Poster+ORS+2025.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/19cb4423-db0f-4535-bb41-4ae763816342/ORS+2025+Pride+image.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/8baed85f-7208-4e4f-8f7d-ba75d4fb27f6/Tushar+Emory+Conference.jpg https://illien-junger-lab.com/research daily 0.75 2022-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1631274338599-UJRYXPJL0J0KIIXX6CRM/Screen+Shot+2021-09-10+at+7.44.54+AM.png Research - Protein phosphatases in intervertebral disc degeneration Hallmarks of intervertebral disc degeneration include chronic inflammation, cell loss, and matrix degradation. Survival pathways, such as the Akt signaling pathway regulate cellularity and matrix production in intervertebral discs, and their inactivation is known to contribute to a pro-inflammatory environment, a catabolic shift and increased cell loss via apoptosis. Regulation of survival pathways are highly tissue specific. We are studying the intervertebral disc specific role of the protein phosphatase PHLPP, specifically, if its pharmacological inhibition can promote cell health and reduce spontaneous degeneration in mouse models, and human cell culture studies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1631113899851-A3UWEY9MWV9UQ5A6SBJ8/Screen+Shot+2021-09-08+at+11.11.21+AM.png Research - Targeting protein phosphatases to promote intervertebral disc healing Discectomies are common surgical interventions that treat radiculopathy by removing herniated and loose intervertebral disc tissues. However, the remaining intervertebral disc tissue can continue to degenerate resulting in long-term clinical problems. Intervertebral discs have a very limited healing capacity. Our lab studies the role of the protein phosphatase PHLPP in decelerating intervertebral disc degeneration following large needle puncture injury, which simulates discectomy surgeries. Targeting this specific phosphatase could halt the degenerative cascade after discectomies by preventing cell death and matrix degradation after acute intervertebral disc injury. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1631105487689-9L6RXZP4WK5PXH4BQLUZ/Screen+Shot+2021-09-08+at+8.03.24+AM.png Research - Diet to maintain intervertebral disc health Diabetes and low back pain are debilitating diseases and modern epidemics. Diabetes and obesity are also highly correlated with intervertebral disc degeneration and back pain. Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) increase reactive-oxygen-species and inflammation, and are one cause for development of diabetes. AGEs accumulate in tissues due to hyperglycemia or prolonged consumption of foods processed at high heat. We found that chronic ingestion of AGE rich diets lead to AGE accumulation in intervertebral discs and vertebrae, contributing to intervertebral disc tissue crosslinking and collagen damage, which are known contributors to intervertebral disc degeneration. https://illien-junger-lab.com/new-page-3 daily 0.75 2022-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1631226673482-S9P00R0ICOEOYK57O1BQ/hires_ext3.jpeg Department - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://illien-junger-lab.com/new-page-4 daily 0.75 2024-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/12f57a2b-b831-4f00-b67d-cd6e8bb6ac88/Maddie+Headshot.jpg Madeleine Gordon https://illien-junger-lab.com/new-page-1-1 daily 0.75 2026-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/b44446c5-b7a9-44bc-8b8e-f2b5bf7cf078/SvenjaPicture1.png Svenja Illien-Junger https://illien-junger-lab.com/katherine-joseph daily 0.75 2022-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1631224665588-BH281GLNIS86R6LW9L3Z/Kathy.png Katherine Joseph https://illien-junger-lab.com/team daily 0.75 2025-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/b44446c5-b7a9-44bc-8b8e-f2b5bf7cf078/SvenjaPicture1.png Team - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/b51c6b07-6f12-454b-8154-da1476a2c45c/Biplab.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/9cdf7dfc-5399-4649-a334-e827885480e2/Neil+Headshot.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/5e618fc8-021e-4a7a-af85-c1b400e719b3/Tushar+Singh+Head+shot.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/0515d1e9-fa51-45bb-a078-2d5f798ef4f3/Larry+Lu.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1631223733632-0Z3PIKFHRNXOO5XNEAAV/Kathy.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/aa65bdef-c488-4d86-be7c-ad71a0607fb6/Screen+Shot+2021-09-09+at+8.24.42+PM.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1631223354810-K242YVK1OX3AYFOF0J5J/Changli.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/12158dff-510f-43bf-b2e8-e164a71614f5/Micahel+Grosso+head+shot.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/f093ba88-bc78-404b-996b-7cb07025378e/Maddie+Headshot.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/8570a72c-dcbd-46a7-9998-bb9f7cf3bf52/AJ+Headshot+2.jpg https://illien-junger-lab.com/tushar-singh daily 0.75 2024-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/53e9e02c-7862-47cb-a356-82cd657ed287/Tushar+Singh+Head+shot.jpg Tushar Singh https://illien-junger-lab.com/michael-grosso daily 0.75 2024-12-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/151d3a2d-9e04-4f47-bed0-4d01c5fb495b/Micahel+Grosso+head+shot.jpg Michael Grosso https://illien-junger-lab.com/neil-romesh daily 0.75 2024-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/a0dffddf-ddc3-407e-9aeb-1946ed4a87ba/AJ+Headshot+2.jpg AJ https://illien-junger-lab.com/neil-romesh-1 daily 0.75 2024-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/61df4518-a70c-4244-b2e9-b20b63acb466/Neil+Headshot+3+-+prefered.jpg Neil https://illien-junger-lab.com/lab-pictures daily 0.75 2025-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/d49cc383-601e-49ee-9a35-799119045164/AJ+farewell+2025+.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/6ad38f02-5194-496b-ad6b-f6af383ed199/Lab_Summer-2025_1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/7b37137d-6faf-4277-a50e-5a1ba7cec013/Lab+Pizza_1+2024.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/92391fd7-5371-413e-9cfe-dd93b528dfaf/Illien-Junger+Lab+7-2024+4.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/21be7ae8-68e3-48b1-946e-728c725c6882/Maddie+Svenja+Tushar+2023.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1e0dbdb9-ba4b-4ba5-ad32-dd2bfe935114/Group+photo+2022.edit.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/ce5de8fa-aad5-4174-9847-69585dc61cff/Illien-Junger+Lab+IMG_7245.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/14270e71-bc6a-411a-8db1-087c0229a7e8/IMG_5510.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/ea8cccfc-8f36-47ab-8de0-c5f51ce24670/Devorah+December+2018.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/1bc41cdd-6a8c-4624-8c5b-8e5a51147250/Geroge+June+2018.jpg https://illien-junger-lab.com/new-page-1-2 daily 0.75 2024-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/55b2a1fe-3839-4131-8af7-75601bc4f623/Biplab+2.jpg Biplab https://illien-junger-lab.com/new-page-1-2-1 daily 0.75 2025-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61327b07b5630511bf42514e/cb2924de-bace-4510-b7ff-c57e5890d698/Larry+Lu.jpg Larry Lu