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Graduate Research

A diverse array of biomechanics research is being conducted by our primary and affiliate faculty at WPI, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), and Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Below is a list of general areas of biomechanics research with links to the individual labs and researchers leading the research efforts.

Tissue mechanics

• The properties of soft connective tissues and engineered tissue replacements is being conducted in the Tissue Mechanics and Tissue Engineering Laboratory (Billiar)
• Research involving the relationship between the applied stress and the response on neurons located in soft tissues is being conducted in the Grigg Laboratory at UMMS. (Hoffman, Grigg)
• Study of orthopedic tissues including the effects of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis is being conducted at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine (Savilonis)

Mechanics of Biomaterials

• Interface mechanics issues between soft and hard connective tissues and engineered biomaterials is being studied in the Shivkumar Lab (Shivkumar)
• The properties of engineered tissue is being conducted in the Tissue Mechanics and Tissue Engineering Laboratory (Billiar)

Rehabilitation engineering, locomotion, and protection

• Devices for disabled persons, artificial replacements, and implants are being researched in the Assistive Technology Resource Center (Ault, Hoffman)
• The kinetics and kinematics of human and animal motion are being conducted at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine (Savilonis)
• Evaluation of protective materials for military applications (Hoffman)

Design of medical and surgical instruments

• Improving the mechanical design of minimally invasive medical instruments is being conducted at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine (Savilonis)
• Design of medical devices and assistive tools is being conducted at UMMS (Peura) and in collaboration with the department of surgery at UMMS (Billiar, Dunn)

Biofluid mechanics and transport

• Flow-patterns related to arterial stenosis and the influence of arteriosclerosis on vasculative and dynamic aortic compliance are being investigated in the Savilonis Lab (Savilonis)

Tissue Engineering

• The effects of mechanical forces on the properties and composition of engineered tissue replacements is being conducted in the Tissue Mechanics and Tissue Engineering Laboratory (Billiar)
• Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis models and interfacial problems associated with engineered biomaterials are being conducted in conjunction with Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine (Savilonis)

Cell mechanics

• Cellular forces of adhesion are being studied in the Wang Laboratory at UMMS (Wang)
• Bacterial Adhesion, Bacterial Interaction Forces, and Biopolymer Research is being conducted in the Camesano Lab in the chemical engineering department (Camesano)
• The effects of mechanical loads on cellular mechanics and physiology in three-dimensional model tissues are being studied in the Tissue Mechanics and Tissue Engineering Laboratory (Billiar)

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Last modified: March 12, 2008 16:18:54