Saiz Lab

Our lab primarily investigates the broad area of fracture healing.

The Saiz Lab primarily investigates the broad area of fracture healing. Specifically, the lab focuses on the fracture-healing response in the setting of polytrauma.

We aim to define mechanistic cellular and molecular pathways involved in the physiologic response to trauma and fracture healing with a goal of identifying potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we perform clinical and translational research given our direct clinical access. All our work has a specific clinical motivation and translational goals aimed at advancing the field of orthopaedic trauma care.

Explore the Saiz Lab

Augustine Saiz, M.D.

Augustine Saiz, M.D., was born and raised in Wisconsin and received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with summa cum laude. He then attended the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, obtaining his medical degree with a Path of Distinction in Public Health. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency with a year of research in the Leach Lab at UC Davis Health and received numerous grants and awards during his residency years. His passion for orthopaedic traumatology led him to pursue a fellowship at UT Houston in Texas. Saiz's contributions and recognition in the field of orthopaedic surgery have led to many national and international activities/presentations. He has been actively involved in AO Trauma North America and was selected for the esteemed AO John Border Memorial Fellowship and studied with Christoph Sommer in Chur where modern fracture surgery was developed.

Augustine's research interests include both clinical and basic science studies. Clinically, he is interested in surgical techniques, patient outcomes, and advancing treatment methods and protocols as well as fellow/resident education, twice being named Faculty of the Year. Mechanistically, his lab investigates the systemic and local effects of polytrauma on fracture repair and the role of muscle injury on bone regeneration with the clinical goal of improving fracture healing. His research has been sponsored by the OTA, AO, and OREF resulting in numerous publications and national/international presentations. He was awarded a prestigious K08 award through NIAMS NIH. In addition, he serves on professional committees for the AO, ORS, AAOS, and the OTA Research Committee. He serves as a faculty mentor for the UC Davis NIH T32 MuSCLE training program. He currently lives in Sacramento with his wife Allison Saiz, MD, a practicing gynecologic oncologist, and their marvelous son.

Current Projects:

Systemic and Local Inflammatory Effects of Polytrauma on Fracture Healing
The Role of Senescence in Delayed Fracture Healing Following Polytrauma
Clinical Risk Factors and Predictive Biomarkers of Impaired Fracture Healing in Human Polytrauma Patients
Effects of Immunomodulation in Polytrauma on Fracture Repair
The Therapeutic Use of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells for Fracture Repair

Maryam Rahmati, PhD

Maryam is doing her postdoctoral fellowship in orthopaedics and tissue engineering with Dr. Saiz. She did her undergraduate in Orthopaedic engineering and her Master’s in biomaterials and tissue engineering. She completed her PhD in bone tissue engineering at the University of Oslo, Norway, and the University of Giessen, Germany. She then did a fellowship at the University of Manchester, UK, on using nanofibers for angiogenesis and bone formation.

Outside the lab, Maryam enjoys kickboxing, swimming, running, hiking, and biking, which keep her physically active and mentally refreshed.
Hannah Day, MD, PGY2

Hannah is an Orthopaedic Surgery resident with interests in Orthopaedic Traumatology and fracture healing. She completed both her Master of Science in Physiology and medical degree from Georgetown University. Prior to starting her surgical training at UC Davis, she undertook a year of research in Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, CO. Hannah grew up in the Pacific Northwest and is happy to be back on the West Coast for her residency. She and her husband Caleb, and their dogs, Henry and Franklin, are enjoying getting to know Sacramento and the endless opportunities for outdoor recreation in the surrounding areas.
Matthew R. Frederickson, MD, PGY2

Matthew Frederickson is a resident physician in orthopaedic surgery at UC Davis. He was born in Sacramento and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He received a bachelor of science in biology at UCLA and then completed medical school at the University of Cincinnati before returning home to California to complete his orthopaedic training at UC Davis. Matt is a big fan of football, rugby, and Australian rules football, and his research interests include orthopaedic trauma and sports medicine.
Reginald Obinna Chinweze, MD, LLM

Reginald is an orthopaedic clinical research postdoctoral scholar in the Saiz Lab, with interests in trauma care, fracture healing, and the psychosocial impact of musculoskeletal injury. He completed medical school at Grodno State Medical University in Belarus and earned a master’s degree in Healthcare Ethics and Law from the University of Manchester in England. Before joining UC Davis, he worked within the NHS in the United Kingdom. Outside of medicine, he's a big sports fan and enjoys following soccer, football, and basketball.
Hamza Allam, PhD Student

Hamza is an immunology graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Saiz, an orthopaedic trauma surgeon, where we investigate how immune responses following traumatic injury influence fracture healing outcomes. Supported by a K08 award, our work centers around clinical observations that patients with polytrauma experience significantly higher rates of fracture nonunion compared to those with isolated injuries. We characterize how the post-traumatic immune environment evolves dynamically across different injury patterns, with an additional focus on how MSC function is modulated in these settings. Our translational goal is to identify when, how, and in which patients to intervene immunologically in order to improve fracture healing and reduce nonunion rates in clinical practice. Outside the lab, Hamza enjoys basketball, snowboarding, and motorcycles.
Mandeep Chhokar, PhD/MD Student

Mandeep's research focuses on Orthopaedic trauma/polytrauma. His hobbies include weight lifting, hiking, and enjoying nature.
Tony D. Baldini, Volunteer

Tony's a medical student at California Northstate University. He's interested in the intersection between orthopaedic surgery and basic science research and has a passion for the field of surgery as a whole. Outside the lab, he enjoys going to the gym, reading, and fishing.
Aneesh Bhat, Volunteer

Aneesh is a first-year undergraduate pre-med student at UC Davis, majoring in Molecular and Medical Microbiology and minoring in Music and Math. Outside of my interests in Anatomy, Physiology, and Orthopaedics, some of my hobbies include Basketball, Soccer, and performing Jazz music.
Charlie Black, Volunteer

Charlie is a second-year undergraduate majoring in physiological science at UCLA. He joined Dr. Saiz's lab in February of 2025, and is currently working on a review paper about the role of mesenchymal stem cells in polytrauma in addition to projects in the lab relating to osteoporosis and the role of infection in polytrauma fracture healing. Outside of the lab, Charlie likes to run, go to the gym, read books, spend time outside, and root for Liverpool Football Club and the Sacramento Kings.
Alex Pham, Volunteer

Alex is a UC Davis NPB major with research interests in chickens and bones. His hobbies include playing badminton, bouldering, baking, and fishing.
Saad Syed, Volunteer

Saad is a UC Davis undergraduate student working in the lab on projects focused on fracture healing in polytrauma. Outside the lab, he enjoys watching and playing sports, playing video games, and reading.