Xavier Houard

Professor Xavier Houard works at Sorbonne University's Rheumatology department in Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris. His research focuses on osteoarthritis pathophysiology, particularly subchondral bone-cartilage interactions and neuroimmune mechanisms in joint diseases.

• Key methodologies: Murine OA models, ex vivo tissue cultures, 3D immunofluorescence
• Major collaborations:
  • Polytechnic University (Hong Kong)
  • Scripps Institute (San Diego)
  • USDF Bakar Institute (San Francisco)

Research highlights include:

• Discovery of 14-3-3ε as an alarmin in OA (Nat Rev Rheumatol 2016)
• Cholinergic system's anti-inflammatory role in joint tissues (Front Immunol 2022)

Current projects target:

• Therapeutic modulation of inter-tissue communication
• Novel disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs)
• Development of biomechanical loading models