To gain insight into the relationship between mechanical loading and bone formation, I use applied loads to stimulate a biological response. Previous work has established that this loading protocol leads to bone formation in young  animals, but the response is diminished in adults. Many clinical studies have shown similar effects with age in humans, potentially contributing to low bone mass and increased risk of fracture. To better understand the variation in the tissue-level response with age, I am investigating the transcriptional response of the bone to loading. By generating and analyzing these large data sets, I aim to identify biological pathways that could serve as potential therapeutic targets to increase bone formation in elderly and adult populations.