April 22, 2025
Meet Alexander Knights, PhD
Orthopaedic Research Faculty
Where are you from? 
I was born in Sydney, Australia, and spent my whole life there before moving to the U.S. for my postdoctoral training in 2019. Sydney is an amazing city – it has incredible weather, the best harbor in the world, beautiful beaches, and is perfect for all sorts of outdoor adventures. I have fond memories of kayaking on Sydney harbor at sunrise, hiking in the Blue Mountains, and having drinks by the iconic Opera House at sunset.
What made you choose orthopaedics as a research specialty?
I kind of stumbled into Orthopaedics serendipitously. I started my postdoc at the University of Michigan studying immune cells in metabolic diseases, during which time I met Dr. Kurt Hankenson and Dr. Tristan Maerz from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. We instantly had great chemistry and started brainstorming some really exciting projects – then I was fortunate to receive a Pioneer Fellowship which allowed me to pivot over to the musculoskeletal field and join Dr. Hankenson and Dr. Maerz in orthopaedic surgery for the remainder of my postdoc. The rest is history!
What brought you to WashU Medicine Orthopedics? 
WashU is an outstanding research and educational institution, and leads the world in musculoskeletal biology and orthopedics. I realized that WashU would be the best place for me to launch my independent research career and to flourish in science. Besides the unparalleled research infrastructure and facilities, it was the people, both inside and outside of the department, who went above and beyond and convinced me to join WashU – that truly made the difference. And I'm very happy with my decision!
What are your research interests?
Fundamentally, I am interested in how cells communicate with each other in healthy tissues, and how this communication (referred to as 'crosstalk') breaks down in disease. I have studied several diseases through this 'crosstalk lens', including systemic inflammation, obesity, and liver disease – but now my primary interest is in joint diseases like osteoarthritis. My key focuses are immunology, adipose tissue, and a fascinating biological pathway called Wnt signaling.
Learn more about the Knights Lab.
What do you find most rewarding about your research?
There are so many rewarding aspects of research. Few things compare to the feeling of getting an amazing result or discovering something new. Sparking collaborations and generating new ideas and directions is also great fun. Plus, it is a very satisfying feeling seeing the growth and development of trainees, as they become full-fledged scientists.
How does your work translate to patient care?
I want to understand how, after a joint injury, a patient does not heal properly but instead progresses to arthritis. Once we have a better knowledge of the processes underpinning this deterioration, we can better target them because right now, there are no disease-modifying treatment for osteoarthritis. I am working with biomedical engineers, drug delivery experts, and orthopaedic surgeons to translate my basic discoveries into the clinic, to benefit patients.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Treat others the same way you'd want to be treated).
What's your favorite thing to do outside of
work?
I love spending time with my wife Adelaide and two boys, Kit (4) and August (1). We enjoy going on all sorts of adventures like biking, hiking, kayaking, checking out new parks and playgrounds, and traveling the world! Personally, I like to spend time playing soccer and rugby, working out, birdwatching, and reading about ancient and medieval history.
If you weren't a scientist, what would you do instead?
Since I was little, I've always wanted to be a park ranger in Africa.