Fanxin Long

Fanxin Long, Ph.D., is a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, holding the William Wikoff Smith Endowed Chair in Pediatric Genomic Research at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. His research focuses on skeletal development, metabolic and epigenetic regulation of bone cells, and pathologies like diabetic osteopenia and osteoarthritis.

• Education:
  • B.S. in Cell Biology, Peking University (1988)
  • M.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara (1992)
  • Ph.D. in Developmental Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine (1997)

Research Interests:
The Long Lab investigates molecular mechanisms of skeletal development and diseases, emphasizing developmental signals (Hh, Wnt, Notch, Bmp) and their metabolic reprogramming roles. Key areas include osteoblast differentiation, diabetic osteopenia, osteoporosis, and skeletal aging, using mouse genetics and single-cell sequencing.

Recent Publication Trends:
Recent studies highlight metabolic pathways (glycolysis, glutamine catabolism, mitochondrial oxidation) in skeletal health, with applications in diabetes-induced bone loss, osteoarthritis, and anti-sclerostin therapy. Collaborative work explores Wnt7b and HIF1 as therapeutic targets, alongside biomaterials for RNA delivery.

Honors:

• William Wikoff Smith Endowed Chair in Pediatric Genomic Research

Labs & Collaborations:
The Long Lab combines genetic lineage tracing with biochemical studies to uncover skeletal stem cell contributions to bone pathology. Collaborative projects include work on metabolic signaling and therapeutic interventions for bone disorders.