MONTANO, ADRIANA

Dr. Adriana Montaño is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Her research is focused on mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), with a particular emphasis on MPS IVA (Morquio A syndrome). She leads a research program dedicated to advancing diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for patients affected by lysosomal storage disorders.

Dr. Montaño and her team are actively involved in developing disease-specific clinical tools, including patient registries and growth charts for MPS IVA. Her group is engaged in pre-clinical studies of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and is developing innovative approaches such as bone-targeting delivery systems designed to improve therapeutic outcomes for skeletal manifestations of MPS disorders.

Her research extends into the development of substrate reduction therapies, as well as gene therapy strategies specifically for MPS IVA. These approaches aim to address the limitations of existing treatments and provide more targeted and long-lasting effects.

In addition to therapeutic development, Dr. Montaño studies the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying glycosaminoglycan metabolism. This includes work on hyaluronidases, the molecular evolution of glycosaminoglycans, peptidoglycan receptor proteins, and chondroitin sulfate pathways.

She has authored numerous scientific publications in the field of metabolic and genetic disorders and participates in collaborative research networks focused on rare disease mechanisms and therapies. Her work contributes to both the basic science and translational research needed to improve care and outcomes for individuals with MPS.

‍