Thorsten Kirsch

Biography

Thorsten Kirsch, Ph.D., is a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Cell Biology. In addition, he is Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center. Dr, Kirsch joined NYU School of Medicine in 2008 coming from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he was a Professor and Director of Orthopaedic Research. Dr. Kirsch studies mechanisms regulating skeletal cell differentiation during development and pathology. Dr. Kirsch tests the hypothesis that mechanisms regulating skeletal cell differentiation during development inappropriately recur during pathology leading to tissue destruction. In addition, Dr. Kirsch studies mechanisms that regulate physiological and pathological calcification of skeletal tissues and other soft tissues. Dr. Kirsch earned his Ph.D. from the Albrecht-Ludwig-University, Erlangen, Germany with summa cum laude in 1992, and completed his postdoctoral training at the University of South Carolina and University of Pennsylvania. Thorsten Kirsch, Ph.D., is a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Cell Biology. In addition, he is Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center. Dr, Kirsch joined NYU School of Medicine in 2008 coming from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he was a Professor and Director of Orthopaedic Research. Dr. Kirsch studies mechanisms regulating skeletal cell differentiation during development and pathology. Dr. Kirsch tests the hypothesis that mechanisms regulating skeletal cell differentiation during development inappropriately recur during pathology leading to tissue destruction. In addition, Dr. Kirsch studies mechanisms that regulate physiological and pathological calcification of skeletal tissues and other soft tissues. Dr. Kirsch earned his Ph.D. from the Albrecht-Ludwig-University, Erlangen, Germany with summa cum laude in 1992, and completed his postdoctoral training at the University of South Carolina and University of Pennsylvania.

Research Interest

Differentiation of stem cells along the chondrocytic and osteogenic pathways; mechanisms regulating physiological and pathological calcification of tissues; mechanisms regulating hypertrophic and terminal differentiation events of chondrocytes; molecular mechanisms regulating osteoarthritis.