Kimberlee Mix

Kimberlee Mix serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Loyola University New Orleans, where she has conducted research and taught since 2009. Her work centers on inflammatory joint pathologies with emphasis on molecular mechanisms driving tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Her academic credentials include a PhD in Biochemistry from Dartmouth College (2003) and a BS in Biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (1998).

Dr. Mix's research program investigates NR4A orphan nuclear receptors as critical transcriptional regulators in joint disease pathogenesis. Her laboratory examines how these receptors control gene networks involved in cartilage degradation, synovial hyperplasia, and inflammatory mediator production. Key focus areas include:

• Molecular pathways of cartilage and bone destruction in arthritis
• NR4A receptor signaling in synovial tissue and chondrocytes
• Transcriptional regulation of matrix metalloproteinases and cytokines
• Therapeutic targeting of nuclear receptors for joint preservation
• Development of cellular and animal models for arthritis research

Analysis of her publication record (2009-2015) reveals sustained investigation into NR4A2's role across multiple disease contexts, demonstrating consistent mechanistic insights into synoviocyte activation, inflammatory cascades, and tissue remodeling. Her work bridges molecular immunology, rheumatology, and transcriptional biology.

She maintains an active undergraduate research program where students gain proficiency in cellular and molecular techniques. Trainees regularly present findings at scientific conferences and co-author publications, with several contributing to high-impact journals in the field. Prospective researchers are encouraged to contact her directly for laboratory opportunities.

Her research operations are conducted in a dedicated laboratory space in Monroe Hall, utilizing collaborative approaches to dissect arthritis pathophysiology and identify novel intervention points through transcriptional modulation.