Biomechanics & Medical Devices

The emergence of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies has introduced a transformative avenue for uncovering the intricacies underlying human development, disease, and tissue homeostasis.

Cardiovascular diseases such as ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAA) and the clinical challenges of congenital heart defects call for a deeper understanding of the biomechanical and biological mechanisms underlying vascular growth and remodeling (G&R). This presentation introduces a multiscale, multiphysics modeling framework that combines computational simulations, medical imaging, and in vivo data to investigate biofluidic and geometric biomarkers linked to ATAA progression in genetically modified mouse models.

TBD

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common form of birth defects. Chromosomal aneuploidy (incorrect copy number) accounts for nearly 10% of CHD cases; however, the mechanisms that link incorrect chromosome copy number to malformations in heart development are poorly understood. Here, I present our recent work integrating human stem cell and mouse models of Down Syndrome to understand how increased dosage of cardiogenic genes impact heart development.

Finite element models provide a valuable tool for studying disease progression, risk of tissue failure, or repair strategies. To date, many models for biological tissues employ hyperelastic material descriptions with material properties that have no direct physical interpretation.

While aging and estrogen deficiency following menopause are major contributors to the occurrence of osteoporosis and an increase in fracture risk, other chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension also favor bone fragility.

The interconnected fields of biological materials science and bioinspired design offer the potential to provide ingenious solutions to modern scientific problems by harnessing the hundreds of millions of years of design experience offered by evolution.

Bone is an engineering marvel, balancing strength, stiffness, and toughness in ways that are difficult to replicate. This seminar explores the relationship between genetics, bone biology, and mechanical properties, focusing on the similarities and differences between human and fish bones.

Understanding how metabolism functions in multicellular organisms is essential for revealing the fundamental mechanisms of numerous biological processes.

Wearable robots offer a tremendous opportunity to enhance the quality of life of individuals with mobility impairments. Examples include bionic prostheses for limb replacement after amputation or movement assisting exosuits for people with spinal cord injury.