Carla R Scanzello

Carla R. Scanzello, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology) at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. She holds affiliations with the Penn Institute for Immunology, Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders, and Penn Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics. Additionally, she serves as a Staff Physician at the Corporal Michael J. Cresenz VA Medical Center, where she co-directs the Translational Musculoskeletal Research Center and is Associate Director of the VA RR&D CReATE Motion Center.

Education:

• B.S. in Biochemistry, University of Delaware (1991)
• Ph.D. in Immunology & Microbiology, Temple University School of Medicine (2001)
• M.D., Temple University School of Medicine (2001)

Her research expertise centers on synovial inflammation in osteoarthritis (OA) and post-traumatic joint injury. She investigates molecular pathways like Toll-like receptors and chemokine signaling, aiming to develop anti-inflammatory therapies. Her work bridges clinical observations with preclinical models to understand how immune activation drives pain and structural degeneration.

Recent publications (2023-2025) focus on CD14's role in OA pain and bone remodeling, novel therapeutic targets (e.g., RHO/ROCK pathway), advanced imaging techniques for synovial analysis, and translational challenges in OA drug development. Key themes include neuroimmune interactions, mechanobiology, and standardization of disease models.

Laboratory & Teams: Dr. Scanzello leads the Scanzello Laboratory for Osteoarthritis Research, emphasizing bedside-to-bench approaches. She collaborates with multidisciplinary teams at Penn and the VA to explore immune mechanisms in joint degeneration. Current projects include defining synovial macrophage diversity, CD14 inhibition strategies, and vascular interactions in joint injury. The lab actively recruits postdoctoral fellows and research assistants to advance these initiatives.