From Soft Tissue Biomechanics Laboratory
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Research
Current research projects in the STBL fall into several main categories:
Structure-function relationships in native and engineered soft tissues
- We are studying how biophysical interactions among tissue components give rise to complex macroscopic mechanical behaviors, and are developing new constitutive models and finite element implementations for more accurate simulation of soft tissue behaviors.
Mechanisms and functional implications of degeneration in cartilage and meniscus
- We are using in vitro overload models to study effects of acute and chronic mechanical overload on cell-mediated matrix degradation in cartilage and fibrocartilage.
- Ongoing studies are exploring the mechanisms of cytokine-induced matrix degradation in meniscal tissue, with a focus on understanding differences from articular cartilage.
- In collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Radiology, we are studying the ability of novel MRI protocols to detect meniscal lesions indicative of regions of impaired mechanical function.
Environmental influences on mesenchymal progenitor cell differentiation
- We are studying the ability of controlled mechanical stimulation to modify differentiation and matrix production and organization by bone marrow- and adipose-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells (adult stem cells).
- We are exploring the ability of receptor-specific ligand modification of three-dimensional scaffolds to influence the differentiation of mesenchymal progenitors.
