My overall expertise is in the field of inter-personal variability of musculoskeletal (MSK) aging. My research focuses on locating genes underlying the genetic variation of complex MSK traits. Osteoporotic fractures of the hip and spine are an important and widespread health problem. There is a bone-muscle cross-talk in norm and pathology. I was the first to summarize both theoretical and empirical evidence that the MSK system develops, functions, and ages as a whole, and that these processes are governed by genes. We use functional studies (in-vivo and in-vitro) to validate the pleiotropic genes discovered by genome-wide association studies, Using sophisticated MSK imaging techniques, we compare newly-measurable phenotypes obtained in both humans (HR-pQCT) and animal models (microCT). My continuous efforts are aimed on educating graduate and medical students in comparative anatomy, for better understanding and implementing preclinical research' findings into human clinical trials for fracture treatment and prevention.