Alon Lai, PhD

Alon resized

Assistant Scientist, Orthopaedics
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
alon.lai@mssm.edu

LinkedIn Profile

Hometown
Hong Kong, China

Education
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering

Research
My research focuses on developing an in-vivo animal model for investigating the potential cause(s) of back pain associated with disc degeneration. The research outcome can provide us insight to better understand the pathophysiology of intervertebral disc degeneration-associated pain, which is important and valuable for developing therapeutic strategies for painful disc degeneration. The in-vivo model can also be used as pre-clinical trial to screen potential treatments for painful disc degeneration.

Future Plans
I’m interested in medical research, especially for translating scientific knowledge to clinical practice. I am interested in all aspects of orthopedics, particularly in spine, back pain and intervertebral disc degeneration.

Publications

  • Lai A., Moon A., Purmessur D., Skovrlj B., Laudier D., Winkelstein B.A., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J.C. (2016). Annular Puncture with Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Injection Enhances Painful Behavior with Disc Degeneration In-vivo. The Spine Journal 16:420-31.
  • Lai A., Moon A., Purmessur D., Skovrlj B., Winkelstein B.A., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J.C. (2015). Assessment of functional and behavioral changes sensitive to painful disc degeneration. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 33:755-64.
  • Frohbergh M., Ge Y., Meng F., Karabul N., Solyom A., Lai A., Iatridis J., Schuchman E.H., Simonaro C.M. (2014). Dose Responsive Effects of Subcutaneous Pentosan Polysulfate Injection in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI Rats and Comparison to Oral Treatment. PLoS One. 9:e100882.
  • Schuchman E.H., Ge Y., Lai A., Borisov Y., Faillace M., Eliyahu E., He X., Iatridis J.C., Vlassara H., Striker G., Simonaro C.M. (2013). Pentosan Polysulfate: A Novel Therapy for the Mucopolysaccharidoses. PLoS One 8: e54459.
  • Chow D.H., Lai A., Tang F.H., Leung M.C. (2013). Effects of Panax ginseng-containing herbal plasters on compressed intervertebral discs in an in vivo rat tail model. Chinese Medicine 8:4.
  • Lai A., Simonaro C.M., Schuchman E.H., Ge Y., Laudier D.M., Iatridis J.C. (2013). Structural, Compositional and Biomechanical Alterations of the Lumbar Spine in Rats with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI (Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome). Journal of Orthopaedic Research 31: 621-31.
  • Chow D.H., Hin C.K., Ou D., Lai A. (2011). Carry-over effects of backpack carriage on trunk posture and repositioning ability. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 41:530-535.
  • Chow D.H, Li M.F., Lai A., Pope M.H. (2011). Effect of Load Carriage on Spinal Compression. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 41: 219-223.
  • Barbir A., Godburn K.E., Michalek A.J., Lai A., Monsey R.D., Iatridis J.C. (2010). Effects of Torsion on Intervertebral Disc Gene Expression and Biomechanics using a Rat Tail Model. Spine 36:607-614.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K. (2010). Effects of Traction on Structural Properties of Degenerated Disc using An In vivo Rat-tail Model. Spine 35: 1339-1345.
  • Chow D.H, Ou Z.Y., Wang X.G., Lai A. (2010). Short-term Effects of Backpack Load Placement on Spine Deformation and Repositioning Error in Schoolchildren. Ergonomics 53: 56-64.
  • Ngan J.M.W., Chow D.H.K., Holmes A.D., Pope M.H., Lai A. (2009) In-vitro kinematic testing of porcine cervical spine: a rotational manipulation model. Prosthetics & Orthotics International 33: 89-98.
  • Chow D.H.K., Ting J.M.L., Pope M.H., Lai A. (2008). Effects of backpack load placement on pulmonary capacities of normal schoolchildren during upright stance. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics 39: 703-707.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Siu S.W.S., Leung S.S., Lau E.F., Tang F.H., Pope M.H. (2008). Effects of static compression with different loading magnitudes and durations on the intervertebral disc: an in-vivo rat-tail study. Spine 33:2721-2728.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Siu W.S., Holmes A.D., Tang F.H., Leung M.C.P. (2008). Effects of electroacupuncture on degenerated intervertebral disc using an in-vivo rat-tail model. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H, Journal of Engineering in Medicine 222:241-248.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Siu W.S., Holmes A.D., Tang F.H. (2007) Reliability of radiographic intervertebral disc height measurement for an in vivo rat-tail model. Medical Engineering & Physics 29:814-819.

Book Chapter

  • Chow D.H.K., Holmes A.D., Qin L., Siu S.W.S., Lai A. (2008). Technical Manual for Biomechanical Testing of Musculoskeletal Tissues. In: A Practical Manual for Musculoskeletal Research, Ed: K.S. Leung, Y. X. Qin, W. H. Cheung, L. Qin, pp. 839-868, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

Podium Presentations/Invited Talks

  • Lai A., Watanabe H., Schuchman M., Ho L., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Pasinetti G.M., Iatridis J.C. (2015). Polyphenol Metabolites Potentially Alleviates Painful Behavior Induced by Annular Injury – An In-vivo Rat Model. ORS PSRS 3rd Philadelphia Spine Research Symposium, Philadelphia, USA, 9-12 November.
  • Lai A., Moon A., Purmessur D., Skovrlj B., Winkelstein B.A., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J.C. (2014). Effects of Depth of Annular injury and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha on Disc Degeneration and Pain. Philadelphia Spine Research Symposium, Philadelphia, USA, 28 October.
  • Lai A., Moon A., Purmessur D., Skovrlj B., Winkelstein B.A., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J.C. (2014). Effect of Lumbar Intradiscal Injection of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Nerve Growth Factor / Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Disc Degeneration, Pain Behavior and Neurovascular Ingrowth in an In-Vivo Rat Model. Proceedings of Orthopaedic Research Society pp. 247, New Orleans, USA, 15-18 March.
  • Lai A., Simonaro, C.M., Schuchman, E.H., Striker G., Ge Y., Faillace M., Laudier D.M., Iatridis J.C. (2012). Pentosan Polysulfate as Adjunctive Intervention to Reverse Spine Alternations in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI (MPS VI). Philadelphia Spine Symposium 2012, Philadelphia, USA, 13 November.
  • Lai A., Simonaro C.M., Schuchman E.H., Laudier D.M., Iatridis J.C. (2012). Alterations in Intervertebral Disc with Mucopolysaccharidosis VI Disorder. Proceedings of Orthopaedic Research Society pp. 0092, San Francisco, USA, 4-7 February.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Tang F.H., Leung G., Leung M.C.P. (2010). Structural changes of degenerated disc following the application of Traditional herbal medicine: An in-vivo rat-tail model study. Proceedings of Biomedical Engineering International Conference and Pre-conference Workshop: Research and regulatory in Biomedical Engineering pp.G-5, Hong Kong, 2-5 November.
  • Chow D.H.K., Lai A., Tang F.H., Leung M.C.P., Leung G. (2008). Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (with prescription of Tienchi) on disc degeneration. Proceedings of BME2008 Biomedical Engineering International Conference: Converging frontiers in Biomedical Engineering from novel research to patient benefits pp. 33, Hong Kong, 23-25 October.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Siu W.S., Tang F.H. (2006). The biomechanical effects of continuous and intermittent compression on intervertebral disc. Proceedings of BME2006 Biomedical Engineering Conference: Biomedical Engineering in Education, Research and Industry pp. 136-139, Hong Kong, 21-23 September.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Siu W.S., Tang F.H. (2006). Repeatability for radiographic intervertebral disc height measurement. Proceedings of BME2006 Biomedical Engineering Conference: Biomedical Engineering in Education pp. 18-21, Research and Industry, Hong Kong, 21-23 September.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Siu W.S., Holmes A.D., Leung C.P., Tang F.H. (2005). Biomechanical effects of electro-acupuncture on intervertebral disc. Abstracts of the 25th Annual Congress of the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association pp. 97, Hong Kong, 19-20 November.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Holmes A.D., Leung M.C.P., Tang F.H., Tam E.W.C., Chau R.Y.S. (2004). The biomechanical effects of electrical stimulation on disc degeneration. Proceedings of Biomedical Engineering Conference BME2004: Integrating Science and Technology in the Healthcare Industry pp. 157-161, Hong Kong, 23-25 September.

Poster Presentation

  • Lai A., Watanabe H., Ho L., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Pasinetti G.M., Iatridis J.C. (2016). Polyphenol Metabolites Potentially Alleviate Painful Behavior Induced by Annular Injury – An In-vivo Rat Model. Proceedings of Orthopaedic Research Society, Florida, USA, 5-8 March.
  • Watanabe H., Lai A., Schuchman M., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J.C. (2016). Can Intradiscal Injection with TNF-α Inhibitor Reduce Pain and Disc Degeneration in a Rat Model? Proceedings of Orthopaedic Research Society, Florida, USA, 5-8 March.
  • Watanabe H., Lai A., Schuchman M., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J.C. (2015). Can Intradiscal Injection with TNF-α Inhibitor Reduce Pain and Disc Degeneration in Rat? ORS PSRS 3rd Philadelphia Spine Research Symposium, Philadelphia, USA, 9-12 November. *1st Place Poster Award in Preclinical, Animal Models & Clinical.
  • Lai A., Moon A., Purmessur D., Skovrlj B., Winkelstein B.A., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J.C. (2015). Effects of Depth of Annular Injury and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha on Disc Degeneration and Pain. Proceedings of Orthopaedic Research Society, Las Vegas, USA, 28-31 March.
  • Lai A., Moon A., Purmessur D., Skovrlj B., Winkelstein B.A., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J.C. (2014). Effects of Depth of Annular injury and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha on Disc Degeneration and Pain. Proceeding of 3rd Annual Musculoskeletal Repair and Regeneration Symposium, New York, USA, 2 October. *Young Investigator Award.
  • Lai A., Simonaro C.M., Schuchman E.H., Striker G., Ge Y., Faillace M., Laudier D.M., Iatridis J.C. (2013). Pentosan Polysulfate Provides Mild Reversal of Spinal Alterations in Rats with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI (MPS VI). Proceedings of Orthopaedic Research Society pp.866, San Antonio, USA, 26-29 January.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Siu W.S., Holmes A.D., Leung M.C.P., Tang F.H. (2005). The biomechanical study on the effects of electro-acupuncture on degenerative-like intervertebral disc. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, Singapore, 7-10 December.
  • Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Siu W.S., Holmes A.D., Leung M.C.P., Tang F.H. (2005). The biomechanical effects of electrical stimulation on degenerative-like changes intervertebral disc. Proceedings of Excellence in Spine ECM VI/SRN I Spinal Motion Segment: From Basic Science to Clinical Application, AO Research Institute, AOSpine Research Network, Davos, Switzerland, 4-7 July.

Conference Proceedings

  • Skovrlj B., Lai A., Moon A., Purmessur D., Winkelstein B., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J. (2014). Effect of Lumbar Intradiscal Injection of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Nerve Growth Factor/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Disc Degeneration. North American Spine Society, San Francisco, USA, 12-15 November.
  • Skovrlj B., Lai A., Moon A., Purmessur D., Winkelstein B., Cho S.K., Hecht A.C., Iatridis J. (2014). Effect of Lumbar Intradiscal Injection of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Nerve Growth Factor/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Disc Degeneration. Lumbar Spine Research Society, Chicago, USA, 1-2 May.
  • Wang C., Chow D.H.K., Lai A. (2010). Effects of load carriage on spine dynamic properties under sudden perturbation. Proceedings of Biomedical Engineering International Conference and Pre-conference Workshop: Research and regulatory in Biomedical Engineering pp. A-5, Hong Kong, 2-5 November.
  • Ou Z.Y., Chow D.H.K., Wang C.X.G., Lai A. (2009). Biomechanical Effects of Backpack Load and Placement on Children’s Spine. Proceedings of 17th Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, IEA2009, Beijing, China, 9-14 August.
  • Ou Z.Y., Chow D.H.K., Lai A. (2009). Control of human cervical spine: a random-walk analysis of spinal curvature variation during upright stance. Proceedings of Progress in Motor Control: pp. A1-41, Marseilles, France, 23-25 July.
  • Barbir A., Godburn K., Michalek A., Lai A., Monsey R., Iatridis J. (2009). In Vivo Response of Intervertebral Discs to Static and Dynamic Torsion. Proceedings of ORS 55th Annual Meeting, Orthopaedic Research Society pp. 77, Nevada, Las Vegas, 22-25 February.
  • Ou Z.Y., Chow D.H.K., Lai A. (2008). Effects of carrying loads and placements on balance of children. Proceedings of BME2008 Biomedical Engineering International Conference: Converging frontiers in Biomedical Engineering from novel research to patient benefits pp. 37, Hong Kong, 23-25 October.
  • Wang X.G., Chow D.H.K., Lai A. (2008). Effects of load placements on spine curvature and proprioception. Proceedings of BME2008 Biomedical Engineering International Conference: Converging frontiers in Biomedical Engineering from novel research to patient benefits pp. 6, Hong Kong, 23-25 October.
  • Siu W.S., Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Holmes A.D., Tang F.H., Leung C.P., Lo S. (2006). Effect of nitric oxide inhibitor on the mechanical properties of degenerated disc of rats. Proceedings of BME2006 Biomedical Engineering Conference: Biomedical Engineering in Education, Research and Industry pp. 131-135, Hong Kong, 21-23 September.
  • Siu W.S., Lai A., Chow D.H.K., Holmes A.D., Lo S., Leung C.P., Tang F.H. (2005). Effect of nitric oxide inhibitor on the mechanical properties of degenerated disc: An In Vivo study in a rat tail model. Abstracts of the 25th Annual Congress of the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association p. 96, Hong Kong, 19-20 November.

Spoken Languages
English, Cantonese and Mandarin

Written Language
English, Cantonese and Mandarin