Natalia Harasymowicz

Natalia Harasymowicz is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Nutrition & Integrative Physiology at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on the role of immune cells, particularly macrophages, in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis with a strong emphasis on obesity's synergistic effects. She holds academic dual affiliations bridging orthopaedic surgery and nutritional sciences.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science (S.B.) and Master of Science (M.Sci.) in Biological Sciences from Jagiellonian University
• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Edinburgh

Research Interests: Her lab investigates:

• Mechanisms linking obesity to OA progression
• Synovial immune cell dynamics in joint injury and aging
• Macrophage phenotypic plasticity in OA microenvironments
• Translational therapies targeting metabolic-inflammatory pathways

Key Research Threads: Recent work emphasizes:

• Obesity-diet interactions in joint degeneration
• Single-cell resolution studies of adipose tissue immune cell populations
• Gene therapy approaches using follistatin and fat-1 constructs
• PIEZO1 channel modulation in chondrocyte mechanotransduction

Labs & Teams: The Harasymowicz Lab at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) Utah employs integrated immunology, genetic engineering, and advanced imaging to develop novel OA treatments. Collaborations span orthopaedics, endocrinology, and bioengineering disciplines.