Dr. D’Angelo has served as course director for the cellular anatomy portion of SPOM
in the DO curriculum since 2005 and participant in the histology course for the M.S.
in Biomedical Sciences program since 2001. In addition, Dr. D’Angelo participates
in the gross anatomy courses for the MS in Biomedical Sciences, the Physician Assistant
Studies program and the PhD in Physical Therapy program from Widener University. Her
responsibilities include organization and presentation of lectures in a team-taught
program and assistance of the students in the laboratory portion of the courses.
Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, ProteaPex Therapeutics, LLC
ProteaPex Therapeutics, LLC has developed an innovative disease modifying therapeutic
technology to treat post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). This new class of therapeutic,
Extracellular Matrix Protection Factor™ (ECPF) is a novel, safe and effective intra-joint
injection that reduces the pain and damage caused by PTOA. According to the World
Health Organization, over 10% of the world’s population aged 60 or older has been
diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA), with 80% of the population aged 65 and older exhibiting
radiographic evidence of OA. Unfortunately, the current standard of care is directed
at later stages of the disease with the only attainable goal being relief from pain
and improvement of joint function. A critical research goal for our group is the development
of disease modifying OA drugs (DMOADs) that would target the early stages of OA. The
company is currently focused on developing therapeutics for the veterinary market
and has a broad base of products for treatment of orthopedic, dental and wound healing
in both the veterinary and human markets. The co-founders of ProteaPex Therapeutics
have over 30 years combined experience in the fields of skeletal biology, osteoarthritis
and peptide design. In April 2014, ProteaPex Therapeutics was issued a patent on the
"Compositions and Methods for Inhibition of MMP13:MMP-Substrate Interactions” by the
US Patent Office.
Matrix Metalloprotease Production in the Dentin/Resin Hybrid Layer:
Bacterial and enzymatic degradation of adhesive bonding agents at adhesive/tooth
interfaces compromises the long-term inhibition of bacterial leakage and prevention
of secondary caries around composite resin restorations. It can be expected that blocking
enzymatic degradation at the interface coupled with the elimination of invading bacteria
will prolong the life expectancy of resin restorations. However, conclusive clinical
evidence for a relationship between gap formation following enzymatic degradation
and bacterial involvement at resin/tooth interfaces does not exist. The overarching
hypothesis of the project is that endogenous MMPs, released and activated by adhesive
procedures, hydrolyse collagen fibrils at resin/dentin interfaces compromising bond
durability. In order to test this hypothesis, we must first demonstrate that endogenous
MMPs can be measured in the dentin from the cavity wall of a single tooth, and which
MMPs are the major players to be inhibited clinically.
PhD, Developmental Biology/Teratology Thomas Jefferson University, July 1992
BS, Biology Drexel University, 1986
Associate Scientist (2000-2001) Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Steven Popoff,
PhD – Advisor – Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa.
Lecturer/Postdoctoral Fellow (1998-2000) Biochemistry Department, Phoebe Leboy, PhD
– Advisor – University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa.
NRSA Postdoctoral Researcher (1994-1998) Anatomy and Histology Department, Maurizio
Pacifici, PhD--Advisor-- University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia,
Pa.
Assistant Research Scientist (1992-1994) Pathology Department, Leslie Gold, PhD --Advisor
-- NYU Medical Center, NYC, NY.
