Tower Lab
Center for Organogenesis, Regeneration & Trauma
Department of Surgery
The Tower lab integrates multi-omics-based approaches in the fields of musculoskeletal development, homeostasis, repair and regeneration.
We currently make use of single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and metabolomic studies to understand the regulatory networks governing cell fate and function. Using transgenic animal models, combined with bioinformatic approaches, our lab currently focuses on understanding the mesenchymal-immune cell interactions which occur within the stem cell niche under physiological conditions, and how these signaling cascades drive regenerative or fibrotic outcomes following injury. Understanding these divergent signaling mechanisms will hopefully help guide future therapeutic strategies to promote faithful repair of damaged tissue.
Meet the Principle Investigator
Robert Tower
Robert Tower is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery with appointments in the Center for Organogenesis Research and Trauma and the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research. Dr. Tower is originally from Edmonton, AB, Canada where he obtained his BS in Molecular Genetics and his MS in Cell Biology from the University of Alberta, then later conducted his PhD in Germany at the Christian Albrechts University. Dr. Tower has conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University. In 2021, Dr. Tower was recruited to UTSW where his lab focusses on musculoskeletal biology, understanding the complex cellular interactions which occur under physiological conditions, molecular changes which occur following injury, and how these pathways dictate regenerative or fibrotic healing outcomes. Dr. Tower is supported by grants from the National Institute of Health and the Department of Defense.
Single-cell mapping of regenerative and fibrotic healing responses after musculoskeletal injury.
Tower RJ, Bancroft AC, Chowdary AR, Barnes S, Edwards NJ, Pagani CA, Dawson LA, Levi B, 2022 Sep Stem Cell Reports
Tower RJ, Busse E, Jaramillo J, Lacey M, Hoffseth K, Guntur AR, Simkin J, Sammarco MC,
2022 May
Elife
11
NGF-p75 signaling coordinates skeletal cell migration during bone repair.
Xu J, Li Z, Tower RJ, Negri S, Wang Y, Meyers CA, Sono T, Qin Q, Lu A, Xing X, McCarthy EF, Clemens TL, James AW, 2022 Mar Sci Adv 11 8 eabl5716
Tower RJ, Li Z, Cheng YH, Wang XW, Rajbhandari L, Zhang Q, Negri S, Uytingco CR, Venkatesan A, Zhou FQ, Cahan P, James AW, Clemens TL,
2021 Oct
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
42
118
Zhong L, Yao L, Tower RJ, Wei Y, Miao Z, Park J, Shrestha R, Wang L, Yu W, Holdreith N, Huang X, Zhang Y, Tong W, Gong Y, Ahn J, Susztak K, Dyment N, Li M, Long F, Chen C, Seale P, Qin L,
2020 04
Elife
9
Neutrophil and NETosis Modulation in Traumatic Heterotopic Ossification.
Nunez JH, Juan C, Sun Y, Hong J, Bancroft AC, Hwang C, Medrano J, Huber AK, Tower RJ, Levi B, 2023 Jun Ann SurgTppp3+ synovial/tendon sheath progenitor cells contribute to heterotopic bone after trauma.
Yea JH, Gomez-Salazar M, Onggo S, Li Z, Thottappillil N, Cherief M, Negri S, Xing X, Qin Q, Tower RJ, Fan CM, Levi B, James AW, 2023 Jul Bone Res 1 11 39
Chowdary AR, Maertz T, Henn D, Hankenson KD, Pagani CA, Marini S, Gallagher K, Aguilar CA, Tower RJ, Levi B,
2022 Sep
Ann Surg
Dirckx N, Zhang Q, Chu EY, Tower RJ, Li Z, Guo S, Yuan S, Khare PA, Zhang C, Verardo A, Alejandro LO, Park A, Faugere MC, Helfand SL, Somerman MJ, Riddle RC, de Cabo R, Le A, Schmidt-Rohr K, Clemens TL,
2022 Nov
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
45
119
e2212178119
Negri S, Wang Y, Li Z, Qin Q, Lee S, Cherief M, Xu J, Hsu GC, Tower RJ, Presson B, Levin A, McCarthy E, Levi B, James AW,
2022 Jun
Stem Cells Transl Med
NELL-1 regulates the matrisome to promote osteosarcoma progression.
Qin Q, Gomez-Salazar M, Tower RJ, Chang L, Morris CD, McCarthy EF, Ting K, Zhang X, James AW, 2022 Jun Cancer Res
Qin Q, Gomez-Salazar M, Cherief M, Pagani CA, Lee S, Hwang C, Tower RJ, Onggo S, Sun Y, Piplani A, Li Z, Ramesh S, Clemens TL, Levi B, James AW,
2022 Jun
Bone Res
1
10
43
Xu J, Wang Y, Li Z, Tian Y, Li Z, Lu A, Hsu CY, Negri S, Tang C, Tower RJ, Morris C, James AW,
2022 Jan
Bone Res
1
10
7
Pagani CA, Bancroft AC, Tower RJ, Livingston N, Sun Y, Hong JY, Kent RN, Strong AL, Nunez JH, Medrano JMR, Patel N, Nanes BA, Dean KM, Li Z, Ge C, Baker BM, James AW, Weiss SJ, Franceschi RT, Levi B,
2022 Dec
Sci Adv
51
8
eabq6152
Haseeb A, Kc R, Angelozzi M, de Charleroy C, Rux D, Tower RJ, Yao L, Pellegrino da Silva R, Pacifici M, Qin L, Lefebvre V,
2021 Feb
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
8
118
Zhang Q, Mesner LD, Calabrese GM, Dirckx N, Li Z, Verardo A, Yang Q, Tower RJ, Faugere MC, Farber CR, Clemens TL,
2021 Apr
J Clin Invest
7
131
Systemic DKK1 neutralization enhances human adipose-derived stem cell mediated bone repair.
Negri S, Wang Y, Sono T, Qin Q, Hsu GC, Cherief M, Xu J, Lee S, Tower RJ, Yu V, Piplani A, Meyers CA, Broderick K, Lee M, James AW, 2021 Apr Stem Cells Transl Med 4 10 610-622
Lee S, Hwang C, Marini S, Tower RJ, Qin Q, Negri S, Pagani CA, Sun Y, Stepien DM, Sorkin M, Kubiak CA, Visser ND, Meyers CA, Wang Y, Rasheed HA, Xu J, Miller S, Huber AK, Minichiello L, Cederna PS, Kemp SWP, Clemens TL, James AW, Levi B,
2021 08
Nat Commun
1
12
4939
Wei Y, Tian Z, Tower RJ, E Gullbrand S, Yao L, Shetye SS, Mauck RL, Qin L, Zhang Y,
2021 05
Am J Phys Med Rehabil
5
100
450-457
Medina OP, Tower RJ, Medina TP, Ashkenani F, Appold L, Bötcher M, Huber L, Will O, Ling Q, Hauser C, Rohwedder A, Heneweer C, Peschke E, Hövener JB, Lüdtke-Buzug K, Boretius S, Mentlein R, Kairemo K, Glüer CC, Sebens S, Kalthoff H,
2020 Jul
Curr Pharm Des
Xu J, Wang Y, Hsu CY, Negri S, Tower RJ, Gao Y, Tian Y, Sono T, Meyers CA, Hardy WR, Chang L, Hu S, Kahn N, Broderick K, Péault B, James AW,
2020 10
Elife
9
Xu J, Li D, Hsu CY, Tian Y, Zhang L, Wang Y, Tower RJ, Chang L, Meyers CA, Gao Y, Broderick K, Morris C, Hooper JE, Nimmagadda S, Péault B, James AW,
2020
Bone Res
8
22
Spatial distribution of type II collagen gene expression in the mouse intervertebral disc.
Wei Y, Tower RJ, Tian Z, Mohanraj B, Mauck RL, Qin L, Zhang Y, 2019 Dec JOR Spine 4 2 e1070
Böhm AM, Dirckx N, Tower RJ, Peredo N, Vanuytven S, Theunis K, Nefyodova E, Cardoen R, Lindner V, Voet T, Van Hul M, Maes C,
2019 10
Dev Cell
2
51
236-254.e12
Peñate-Medina O, Tower RJ, Peñate-Medina T, Will O, Saris PEJ, Suojanen J, Sorsa T, Huuskonen L, Hiippala K, Satokari R, Glüer CC, de Vos WM, Reunanen J,
2019 07
BMC Microbiol
1
19
167
Tong W, Tower RJ, Chen C, Wang L, Zhong L, Wei Y, Sun H, Cao G, Jia H, Pacifici M, Koyama E, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Qin L,
2019 05
Stem Cells
5
37
677-689
Wang L, Tower RJ, Chandra A, Yao L, Tong W, Xiong Z, Tang K, Zhang Y, Liu XS, Boerckel JD, Guo X, Ahn J, Qin L,
2019 03
J Bone Miner Res
3
34
520-532
Zhang Y, Tian Z, Ashley JW, Wang L, Tower RJ, Wei Y, Qin L, Yang S, Enomoto-Iwamoto M,
2019 01
Am J Phys Med Rehabil
1
98
35-42
Wang L, Jia H, Tower RJ, Levine MA, Qin L,
2018 10
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab
4
315
E446-E453
Campbell GM, Tower RJ, Damm T, Kneissl P, Rambow AC, Schem C, Tiwari S, Glüer CC,
2018 03
J Bone Miner Res
3
33
410-418
Vhl deletion in osteoblasts boosts cellular glycolysis and improves global glucose metabolism.
Dirckx N, Tower RJ, Mercken EM, Vangoitsenhoven R, Moreau-Triby C, Breugelmans T, Nefyodova E, Cardoen R, Mathieu C, Van der Schueren B, Confavreux CB, Clemens TL, Maes C, 2018 03 J Clin Invest 3 128 1087-1105
Jia H, Ma X, Wei Y, Tong W, Tower RJ, Chandra A, Wang L, Sun Z, Yang Z, Badar F, Zhang K, Tseng WJ, Kramer I, Kneissel M, Xia Y, Liu XS, Wang JHC, Han L, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Qin L,
2018 02
Arthritis Rheumatol
2
70
230-241
Schem C, Tower RJ, Kneissl P, Rambow AC, Campbell GM, Desel C, Damm T, Heilmann T, Fuchs S, Zuhayra M, Trauzold A, Glüer CC, Schott S, Tiwari S,
2017 Mar
J Bone Miner Res
3
32
536-548
Stelmach-Mardas M, Iqbal K, Mardas M, Schwingshackl L, Walkowiak J, Tower RJ, Boeing H,
2017 06
Eur J Clin Nutr
6
71
718-722
Quality of life, depression and dietary intake in Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients.
Stelmach-Mardas M, Mardas M, Iqbal K, Tower RJ, Boeing H, Piorunek T, 2016 Jul Health Qual Life Outcomes 1 14 111
Dotterweich J, Schlegelmilch K, Keller A, Geyer B, Schneider D, Zeck S, Tower RJ, Ebert R, Jakob F, Schütze N,
2016 12
Bone
93
155-166
Dotterweich J, Tower RJ, Brandl A, Müller M, Hofbauer LC, Beilhack A, Ebert R, Glüer CC, Tiwari S, Schütze N, Jakob F,
2016
PLoS One
5
11
e0155087
Tower RJ, Campbell GM, Müller M, Glüer CC, Tiwari S,
2015 May
Bone
74
171-81
Schott S, Vallet S, Tower RJ, Noor S, Tiwari S, Schem C, Busch C,
2015 Aug
Invest New Drugs
4
33
816-26
TRAIL-R2 promotes skeletal metastasis in a breast cancer xenograft mouse model.
Fritsche H, Heilmann T, Tower RJ, Hauser C, von Au A, El-Sheikh D, Campbell GM, Alp G, Schewe D, Hübner S, Tiwari S, Kownatzki D, Boretius S, Adam D, Jonat W, Becker T, Glüer CC, Zöller M, Kalthoff H, Schem C, Trauzold A, 2015 Apr Oncotarget 11 6 9502-16
Chang J, Klute MJ, Tower RJ, Mast FD, Dacks JB, Rachubinski RA,
2015 Apr
J Cell Sci
7
128
1327-40
Tower RJ, Campbell GM, Müller M, Will O, Glüer CC, Tiwari S,
2014 Sep
J Bone Miner Res
9
29
1993-2003
Mesenchymal stem cell contact promotes CCN1 splicing and transcription in myeloma cells.
Dotterweich J, Ebert R, Kraus S, Tower RJ, Jakob F, Schütze N, 2014 Jun Cell Commun Signal 12 36In vivo targeting of activated leukocytes by a ?2-integrin binding peptide.
Ranta TM, Suojanen J, Peñate-Medina O, Will O, Tower RJ, Glüer C, Kairemo K, Gahmberg CG, Koivunen E, Sorsa T, Saris PE, Reunanen J, 2014 Feb Mol Diagn Ther 1 18 39-44
Chang J, Tower RJ, Lancaster DL, Rachubinski RA,
2013 Oct
J Cell Sci
Pt 20
126
4698-706
Gao T, Bowlby E, Tong Y, Wu JT, Wong L, Tower RJ, Pang X, Li X,
2012 Apr
Bioresour Technol
110
692-6
Tower RJ, Fagarasanu A, Aitchison JD, Rachubinski RA,
2011 May
Mol Biol Cell
10
22
1727-38
Current Lab Openings
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Contact Information
- Dr. Robert Tower
- Department of Surgery
- NL07.120J Kern Wildenthal Biomedical Research Building 6000 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX, 75235
- @Tower_Lab