Denis Evseenko, MD, PhD

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

J. Harold and Edna La Briola Chair in Genetic Orthopaedic Research

Director of Skeletel Regeneration

Vice Chair for Research in Orthopaedic Surgery

Executive Director of PARRIS Longevity Accelerator

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Overview

Dr. Denis Evseenko is currently a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine at USC. He holds the J. Harold and Edna La Briola Chair in Genetic Orthopaedic Research and is Director of Skeletal Regeneration, as well as Vice Chair for Research in Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr Evseenko was trained in both medicine and molecular pharmacology. His research focuses on the development of novel translational stem cell and small molecule-based approaches for prevention of arthritis and restoration of damaged articular cartilage. Dr Evseenko has been involved in translational research for over 10 years and is the author of numerous peer-reviewed research articles, presentations, and patents.

Awards

  • Arthritis National Research Foundation: James Klinenberg Award, 2015
  • USC: USC Stevens Technology Advancement Grant, 2016
  • Wright Foundation: Wright Foundation Award, 2016

Research Funding

  • Pre-clinical development of a small molecule therapeutic for the systemic treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
    NIH · UG3AG097137 · Sep 15, 2025 – Aug 31, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • Cellular origins and molecular mechanisms of arthrofibrosis
    NIH · R01AR085642 · May 2, 2025 – Mar 31, 2030 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • Preclinical assessment of a novel systemic drug candidate for osteoarthritic pain
    NIH · R61NS131307 · Jun 1, 2023 – May 31, 2025 · Role: Principal Investigator

Publications

  • A Human Skeletal Muscle Atlas Identifies the Trajectories of Stem and Progenitor Cells across Development and from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cell Stem Cell. 2020 Jul 02; 27(1):181-185.. View in PubMed
  • Modulation of Hedgehog Signaling by Kappa Opioids to Attenuate Osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 08; 72(8):1278-1288.. View in PubMed
  • A Human Skeletal Muscle Atlas Identifies the Trajectories of Stem and Progenitor Cells across Development and from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cell Stem Cell. 2020 07 02; 27(1):158-176.e10.. View in PubMed
  • In vitro behavior of tendon stem/progenitor cells on bioactive electrospun nanofiber membranes for tendon-bone tissue engineering applications. Int J Nanomedicine. 2019; 14:5831-5848.. View in PubMed
  • Lentiviral Gene Therapy for Bone Repair Using Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Hum Gene Ther. 2019 07; 30(7):906-917.. View in PubMed
  • Nomenclature Inconsistency and Selective Outcome Reporting Hinder Understanding of Stem Cell Therapy for the Knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2019 Jan 16; 101(2):186-195.. View in PubMed
  • CaMKII inhibition in human primary and pluripotent stem cell-derived chondrocytes modulates effects of TGFβ and BMP through SMAD signaling. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2019 01; 27(1):158-171.. View in PubMed
  • Mapping molecular landmarks of human skeletal ontogeny and pluripotent stem cell-derived articular chondrocytes. Nat Commun. 2018 09 07; 9(1):3634.. View in PubMed
  • Genetic ablation of adenosine receptor A3 results in articular cartilage degeneration. J Mol Med (Berl). 2018 10; 96(10):1049-1060.. View in PubMed
  • Molecular characterization of physis tissue by RNA sequencing. Gene. 2018 Aug 20; 668:87-96.. View in PubMed