Distinguished Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery & Molecular Biology
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
About Dr. Adams
Dr. John S. Adams is a physician-scientist based at UCLA, where he has devoted over four decades to translational research on vitamin D, skeletal health, and immune regulation. He holds appointments in Orthopaedic Surgery, Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, and Medicine, and formerly directed the UCLA Alpha Stem Cell Clinic.
His work bridges basic molecular biology and clinical application, particularly in understanding how vitamin D functions beyond its traditional role in bone metabolism. Dr. Adams examines vitamin D’s regulation of sterol synthesis, steroid hormone signaling, chromatin remodeling, immune response, and skeletal stem cell function in aging and disease.
Key Contributions & Research
- For decades, Dr. Adams has been continuously funded by the NIH for studies into vitamin D metabolism, function, and signaling in both bone and immune systems.
- He investigates how intracellular trafficking, alternative splicing, and transcriptional regulation influence vitamin D action, particularly in skeletal stem cells and immune cells.
- His lab studies how vitamin D metabolites modulate macrophage and neutrophil antimicrobial activity, especially relevant to orthopedic implant infections and prosthetic wear debris.
- Dr. Adams has also explored the role of vitamin D in chromatin remodeling, miRNA regulation, and alternative splicing as mechanisms by which vitamin D may influence gene expression in bone, immune, and skeletal lineages.
Awards & Recognition
- Boy Frame Award for Clinical Excellence in Bone & Mineral Metabolism, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (2005)
- Brasel Basic Science Award, Harbor-UCLA (2011)
- Broad Stem Cell Research Center Innovation Award, UCLA (2010–2012)
- Council Member, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (elected 2009)
Top Publications
- Adams JS, Hewison M. Update in Vitamin D. The Endocrine Society / J Clin Endocrinol Metab (2010). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2840860/
- Lomax GP, Adams JS, Jamieson C, Zaia J, Millan MT. Accelerating Stem Cell Treatments for Patients: The Value of Networks & Collaboration. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2015. https://www.luskinoic.org/researchers/john-adams-md/
- Wu L et al., including Adams JS. Lysophosphatidic acid mediates fibrosis in injured joints … Osteoarthritis & Cartilage 2015.
- Chun RF et al., including Adams JS and Hewison. Vitamin D and alternative splicing of RNA. J Steroid Biochem & Mol Biol 2015.
