Suneel Apte

Suneel Apte, MBBS, DPhil, is a Professor at the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner College of Medicine with dual appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. As Principal Investigator of the Apte Laboratory, he leads research on proteases and extracellular matrix biology, with a focus on understanding proteolysis in health and disease.

Dr. Apte earned his medical degree from the University of Bombay (now University of Mumbai) in 1985 and completed his D.Phil. at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar in 1990. Following post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School, he joined the Cleveland Clinic in 1996 as Assistant Staff, advancing to Associate Staff in 2001 and Staff (equivalent to Professor) in 2006.

His research spans organ, tissue, cell and molecular scales to determine how extracellular matrix turnover contributes to human diseases. The laboratory's work focuses on ADAMTS proteases and their roles in disorders such as osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, aortic aneurysms and heart failure. His team employs cutting-edge approaches including degradomics, proteomics, and genetic models to uncover disease pathways and identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Dr. Apte's publications reveal a strong focus on protease biology, extracellular matrix dynamics, and their implications for cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders. His recent work has advanced understanding of ADAMTS protease functions, developed novel databases like DICED for degradomics research, and identified key mechanisms in diseases ranging from osteoarthritis to pulmonary hypertension.

• Rhodes Scholar
• American Heart Association-Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group Distinguished Investigator
• Past-President of International Society for Matrix Biology
• Past-President of American Society for Matrix Biology
• Organizer of ASMB biennial conference (2014)
• Chair of 2013 Gordon Research Conference on Metalloproteinases
• Editor of Matrix Biology and Matrix Biology Plus
• Former Editor of Journal of Biological Chemistry

Dr. Apte has trained numerous post-doctoral fellows, medical and doctoral students, undergraduates and technicians who have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, medicine, and related fields. His laboratory has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health and other prestigious organizations including the American Heart Association and The Marfan Foundation.

The Apte Laboratory maintains strong collaborations across disciplines, working with clinicians, basic scientists, and bioinformaticians to address complex questions in matrix biology and protease function. Current research directions include developing comprehensive frameworks for understanding proteolysis across organ systems and disease states, with implications for biomarker discovery and therapeutic development.