Kim Mansky, PhD

Dr. Mansky earned her Bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1991. She worked as a technician at the University of North Carolina from 1991-1992. She completed her Ph.D. degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1997 with a focus on oncology with the study of papillomaviruses. She then moved to The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in bone biology with an emphasis on osteoclast differentiation. Dr. Mansky accepted a faculty position at the University of Minnesota in 2003, and she continues to further her efforts in trying to understand osteoclast differentiation.

Bone biology and bone cancer; Osteoimmunology; Bone metabolic disorders associated with HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy

Osteoclasts are large, multinucleated cells that resorb bone by secreting acid and proteases. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate osteoclast activity is essential for addressing bone loss during normal bone remodeling and in inflammatory conditions such as periodontal disease. Epigenetic modifications—including histone acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitylation—alter chromatin structure and regulate gene expression by modulating access to DNA. These reversible changes in innate immune cells, including osteoclasts, can imprint a form of “memory” from prior microbial or inflammatory exposures, enabling a heightened response to future challenges. While this trained innate immunity can be protective against infections and tumors, it may become maladaptive in chronic inflammatory diseases like periodontitis. Recent studies have shown that maladaptive trained immunity contributes to inflammatory comorbidities such as periodontitis and arthritis by promoting excessive myeloid cell production and persistent epigenetic reprogramming. Our lab investigates the epigenetic changes that occur during osteoclast differentiation to understand how gene expression is regulated under both physiological and inflammatory conditions. This research aims to deepen our understanding of osteoclast biology and inform therapeutic strategies for diseases like periodontal disease and arthritis.

Award: ISS: Chip-Based in vitro Modeling of Endocortical Microenvironment with Reduced Mechanical Loading
Principal Investigator: Hammer, Bruce E
Sponsoring Organization: The National Science Foundation
Award Dates: 2021 - 2021

Award: ISS: Chip-Based in vitro Modeling of Endocortical Microenvironment with Reduced Mechanical Loading
Principal Investigator: Hammer, Bruce E
Sponsoring Organization: The National Science Foundation
Award Dates: 2021 - 2023

Award: Minnesota Craniofacial Research Training Program
Principal Investigator: Mansky, Kim
Sponsoring Organization: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Award Dates: 2017 - 2022

Award: Minnesota Craniofacial Research Training Program - R90
Principal Investigator: Mansky, Kim
Sponsoring Organization: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Award Dates: 2017 - 2022

Award: Open-Label Phase 2 Pilot Study of Interferon Gamma-1b
Principal Investigator: Orchard, Paul John
Sponsoring Organization: Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation
Award Dates: 2017 - 2019

Award: Musculoskeletal Training Grant
Principal Investigator: Clohisy, Denis R
Sponsoring Organization: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Award Dates: 2016 - 2022

Award: Role of HDAC7 in Osteoclast Differentiation
Principal Investigator: Mansky, Kim
Sponsoring Organization: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Award Dates: 2016 - 2019

Award: Role of HDAC7 in Osteoclast Differentiation
Principal Investigator: Mansky, Kim
Sponsoring Organization: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Award Dates: 2015 - 2016

Award: Role of HDAC7 in Osteoclast Differentiation
Principal Investigator: Mansky, Kim
Sponsoring Organization: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Award Dates: 2013 - 2016

Award: Gravitational Regulation of Osteoblast Genomics and Metabolism
Principal Investigator: Hammer, Bruce E
Sponsoring Organization: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Award Dates: 2011 - 2017

Award: Regulating MITF's activation of osteoclast target genes
Principal Investigator: Mansky, Kim
Sponsoring Organization: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Award Dates: 2006 - 2009