Ambrosi lab receives prestigious NIH fellowship to advance research on aging and bone health
By Sonia Kumar
(SACRAMENTO)
Kelly Weldon, an M.D./Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Thomas Ambrosi, has received a highly competitive National Institutes of Health (NIH) F30 Fellowship from the National Institute on Aging. Ambrosi is an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. The award is among the most prestigious for dual-degree students and is the first NIH F30 fellowship hosted by the Ambrosi Lab.
The F30 fellowship supports the integrated research and clinical training of physician-scientists pursuing dual medical and doctoral degrees. The award recognizes promising trainees and provides support for research that bridges scientific discovery and patient care.
Weldon’s project is titled “Dissecting Age-related Changes in Stem Cell-based Bone-Gut Crosstalk.” The award provides three years of dual-degree funding and support as she completes her doctoral dissertation research and transitions back to clinical clerkships for her final two years of medical school.
This fellowship will allow me to further explore the relationship between the gut microbiome and bone health as we seek new insights into aging and tissue regeneration."—Kelly Weldon, M.D./Ph.D. candidate, Ambrosi Lab
Weldon’s research explores how the gut microbiome influences skeletal health during aging. Through the fellowship, she will investigate how microbial metabolites regulate skeletal stem cells and the bone marrow microenvironment to better understand aging, immunity and bone regeneration.
"This fellowship will allow me to further explore the relationship between the gut microbiome and bone health as we seek new insights into aging and tissue regeneration," Weldon said.
Weldon conducting confocal fluorescence imaging on mouse femur samples to examine skeletal signaling alterations due to gut microbiome changes.
The award also highlights the growing research program in the Ambrosi Lab, which studies the complex interactions between the microbiome and the skeletal system in aging.
Kelly's achievement is an exciting recognition of both her work and the research program we are building in the lab."—Thomas Ambrosi, assistant professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
"Kelly's achievement is an exciting recognition of both her work and the research program we are building in the lab," Ambrosi said. "The fellowship will support her continued development as a physician-scientist as she works toward her long-term goal of a career in academic orthopaedic surgery."
Federal research funding, such as the NIH F30, helps transform promising discoveries into real-world breakthroughs that save lives and improve quality of life. Learn more about how public investment in UC Davis research powers innovation, strengthens the economy and advances human health in From Labs to Lives.
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