Ronald June

Montana State University

Ron June has longstanding research interests in osteoarthritis and biomechanics related to improving human health.  As a graduate student at the University of California, Davis, Dr. June studied cartilage biomechanics with Dr. David Fyhrie.  Specifically, he investigated a novel mechanism of cartilage flow-independent material properties.  During the course of this project, he discovered novel biomechanical phenomena and made several experimental observations that are consistent with polymer dynamics as a potential physiological mechanism of cartilage viscoelasticity.  As a postdoctoral fellow, first with Dr. Robert Terkeltaub and then with Dr. Steven F. Dowdy, Dr. June has implemented a surgical model of mouse osteoarthritis and studied protein transduction.  He developed a pH-sensitive system for intracellular delivery of macromolecules and has investigated protein transduction in cartilage and chondrocytes.  Dr. June began his independent laboratory at Montana State University in 2011, and his research involves using metabolomic profiling and systems biology to understand osteoarthritis.  Specific current projects including analyzing synovial fluid to better understand joint biology and assess biomarkers using statistical learning, as well as both in vitro and in vivo studies of chondrocyte mechnanotransduction.  His long-term research interests lie in understanding cartilage and joint mechanobiology to develop novel therapeutic strategies for joint disease, as well utilizing metabolomics to assess the heterogeneity of osteoarthritis and develop effective biomarkers.