Deciphering "Stone Man" Disease

Guest: David Goldhamer, PhD, Stem Cell Biologist, Associate Director, Stem Cell Institute, and Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut The skeleton of Harry Raymond Eastlack – who died in 1973 - is on display at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia. It stands up on its own, without all the wires and bolts a skeleton would normally need to keep its shape once all the muscles and ligaments are gone. That’s because Eastlack had an extremely rare disease that virtually encased his body in extra bone, fusing his joints in place. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive or FOP is sometimes called “Stone Man Disease” and while it afflicts only one in 2 million people, scientists are actively working to understand what causes it. Since today is International FOP Awareness Day, we’ve got one of those scientists on the line.