Natalia Vapniarsky Arzi

Natalia Vapniarsky Arzi

Associate Professor

Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology


Licenses
Diplomate of the American College Of Veterinary Pathologists
Education
1999, B.Sc., Haifa University,
2003, DVM, Szent Istvan University,
2013, DACVP, University of California, Davis,
2017, PhD, University of California Davis,
2018, Enviromental Health Science Center Leadership Management Course,
Active Research Grants
Co-Investigator, RO1 Particulate-based in vivo modulation for immunotherapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Jamal Lewis (Principal Investigator), NIH BMBI
Co-Investigator, Improving mitochondrial function to mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury from aortic occlusion in a swine model of hemorrhagic shock, Guillaume Hoareau (Principal Investigator), Department of Defense
Co-Investigator, R01 B Lymphocyte-Mediated Autoimmunity in Pain After Trauma, Clark, David J. (Principal Investigator), NIH/NINDS
Principal Investigator, Winn Feline Foundation Miller Trust Non-genetic enhancement of feline adipose mesenchymal stromal cell immunomodulation with adenosine-loaded nanoparticles, (Principal Investigator), Everycat
Principal Investigator, Deciphering Cell Death Mechanism in Cartilage-Tissue Engineering, (Principal Investigator), Provost’s Undergraduate Fellowship,
Co-Principal Investigator, Evaluation of Partial Flow Strategies in Hemorrhage and Endovascular Variable Aortic Control, Guillaume Hoareau, DVM, PhD (Principal Investigator), DOD
Co-Investigator, Endovascular blood pressure targeting in cardiac arrest, a translational research study, Johnson, M. Austin (Principal Investigator), NIH/NHLBI
Co-Investigator, Immediate Intervention Following Tooth Extraction Using Allogeneic Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Cats with Chronic Gingivostomatitis: A Randomized, Controlled and Blinded Study, Boaz Arzi (Principal Investigator), EveryCat Feline foundation
Principal Investigator, Tissue engineering of Immuno-universal cartilage for dogs, (Principal Investigator), Center for Companion Animal Health
Principal Investigator, Peripheral mononuclear cells isolation and preservation for feline research needs , (Principal Investigator), Canter for Companion Animal Health
Principal Investigator, Tissue Engineering of Immuno-Universal Cartilage Implants for Temporomandibular Joint Disc Regeneration, (Principal Investigator), NIH/NIDCR
Principal Investigator, Analysis of Immune Cells within the Healthy Oral Mucosa of Juvenile Dogs , (Principal Investigator), Center of Companion Animal Health
Co-Principal Investigator, Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging with Protoporphyrin IX for Intraoperative Margin Evaluation, Stepahnie Goldschmid (Principal Investigator), CCAH
Co-Principal Investigator, Major histocompatibility complex I (MHC I) knockout through disruption of beta 2 microglobulin gene to enhance allogeneic feline adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (adMSC) immunomodulation, Boaz Arxi (Principal Investigator), STAR UC Davis Office Of RESEARCH
Principal Investigator, STAR Project , (Principal Investigator), UC Davis Ofice of RESEARCH
Co-Principal Investigator, Fluorescence lifetime imaging with Protoporphyrin IX for differentiating between cancer, dysplastic, and healthy tissues in spontaneously occurring canine oral squamous cell carcinoma, Stephanie Goldschmidt (Principal Investigator), CANCER CENTER UC Davis
Research Focus
Regenerative medicine, tissue engineeringAs a veterinary pathologist working in regenerative medicine, I have developed a keen interest in understanding the biology of host-implant interaction. This interaction is also crucial in implanting engineered organs and tissues and administering cellular therapies, such as MSC. In particular, I am interested in determining and controlling the nature of the immune response that leads to tolerance and integration of the implant versus rejection. I am determined to devote my efforts as a scientist to unravel the mysteries of these interactions and find ways to control the implantation outcomes with the best possible outcome and minimal morbidity to the recipient. I hope to create immunouniversal tissues, organs, and cell therapies one day.
Specialty Focus
Anatomic Pathology
Mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for immunomodulation
Cartilage tissue engineering
Antigenicity of cartilage and tissue-engineered cartilage implantsImplant-recepient immunology
Ten Recent Publications

2023
Iris L Rivas , Maria Soltero-Rivera , Natalia Vapniarsky and Boaz Arzi
Stromal cell therapy in cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis: current perspective and future direction

2022
Barbro Filliquist, Rachel McKay, Denis J. Marcellin-Little, Justine J. Irvin, Tanya C. Garcia, William Vernau, Po-Yen Chou, Amy S. Kapatkin, Natalia Vapniarsky
Metal reactivity is present in dogs with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy and total hip replacement implants

2022
Maria Soltero-Rivera, Natalia Vapniarsky, Iris L. Rivas Boaz Arzi,
Clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of early onset gingivitis and periodontitis in cats (1997-2022)

2022
Cassano JM, Marycz K, Horna M, Nogues MP, Morgan JM, Herrmann DB, Galuppo LD, Vapiarksky N
Evaluating the safety of intra-articular mitotherapy in the equine model: a potential novel treatment for osteoarthritis

2022
De Paolo M, Gracis M, Lacava G, Vapniarsky N, Arzi B
Management of bilateral pterygoid myositis ossificans-like lesion in dogs

2022
Garrity C, Arzi B, Haus B, Lee C, Vapniarsky N^
A Fresh Glimpse into Cartilage Immune Privilege

2022
Tsugawa AJ, Arzi B, Vapniarsky N, Verstraete FJM
A retrospective study on mandibular reconstruction following excision of canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma

2022
Arzi B, Nolta JA, Vapniarsky N
The oromaxillofacial region as a model for a one-health approach in regenerative medicine

2022
Vapniarsky N^, Moncada L, Garrity C, Wong A, Filliquist B, Chou PY, Kapatkin AS, Marcellin-Little DJ
Tissue engineering of canine cartilage from surgically debrided osteochondritis dissecans fragments

2021
Mckay RM, Vapniarsky N, Hatcher DC, Carr N, Chen S, Verstraete FJM, Cissell DD, Arzi B
The diagnostic yield of cone-beam computed tomography for degenerative changes of the temporomandibular Joint in Dogs