Roman A. Eliseev

Roman A. Eliseev, M.D., Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry with primary appointment in the Department of Orthopaedics, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, and joint appointments in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology.

Dr. Eliseev received his MD from Russian State Medical University in 1995 and his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 2002. His post-doctoral training was completed at the Center for Musculoskeletal Research from 2003-2005.

Dr. Eliseev's research program focuses on understanding how cell metabolism determines cell fate, with particular emphasis on the role of mitochondria as both 'powerhouses' of the cell and important components of cell signaling. His laboratory investigates how mitochondrial function regulates mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes, and how this process is disrupted in aging and disease. A significant portion of his work examines how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to osteoporosis and delayed fracture healing in aged individuals. His team discovered that cyclophilin D (CypD), a regulator of the mitochondrial permeability transition, plays a critical role in age-related bone loss, with CypD knockout mice showing enhanced resistance to osteoporosis.

Additionally, Dr. Eliseev studies metabolic reprogramming in osteosarcoma, investigating how the Warburg effect (preference for glycolytic over mitochondrial metabolism) in cancer stem cells contributes to treatment resistance. His research indicates that targeting this metabolic vulnerability could improve osteosarcoma treatment outcomes, particularly for radiation-resistant cancer stem cells.

Dr. Eliseev's laboratory has produced a substantial body of work connecting mitochondrial function to bone health and disease. His research demonstrates consistent themes across publications: the critical role of mitochondrial metabolism in stem cell differentiation, the importance of cyclophilin D in bone aging and disease, and the therapeutic potential of targeting metabolic pathways in bone disorders and cancer.

Scientific Awards

• CTSI KL2 Career Award (2009-2011)
• Wilmot Cancer Research Fellowship (2004-2007)
• NIH Travel Scholarship (2002)
• Graduate Student Society Research Award (2001)
• Young Investigator Award (2000)
• Young Investigator Award (1998)
• Moscow Mayor's Honorary Scholarship (1993-1995)
• Freshman Competitive Scholarship (1987-1988)

Dr. Eliseev actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology program, the PhD Program in Pathology - Cell Biology of Disease, and the Biomedical Engineering program. Current mentees include Sandra H. Castillo Aguirre, Renae Duncan, Xingyu Jing, Brooke Wise, and Chen Yu. His former trainees have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and clinical practice. Dr. Eliseev's research has been supported by various funding mechanisms including the CTSI KL2 Career Award and Wilmot Cancer Research Fellowship.

The Eliseev Lab, located at SMD 1-8541, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY, consists of faculty, research assistants, graduate students, and medical students working collaboratively on projects related to mitochondrial biology, stem cell differentiation, and bone metabolism. The lab maintains active collaborations with other research groups at the University of Rochester and beyond, focusing on translating basic science discoveries into potential therapeutic approaches for bone disorders and cancer.