Biomedical Mechanics
The leading causes of disability and death in the United States are musculoskeletal disorders and cardiovascular disease. The combined annual costs of these diseases are in excess of $1.2 trillion. While diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and atherosclerosis are diverse in origin, at their core, they all involve mechanical malfunction of tissues. Understanding the function of these tissues and developing solutions new approaches to diagnosing and treating these diseases requires rigorous understanding of solid and fluid mechanics, combined with training in the chemical and biological underpinnings of the structure of biological tissues. Members of the Biomedical Mechanics Area in the Sibley School use expertise in mechanics to understand the function of biological tissues, organs, and systems. Through combined analytical and finite element modeling and experiments, research is aimed at understanding structure-property relationships in biological tissues; analyzing, designing, and fabricating implants to restore tissue function; and understanding the mechanisms by which cells and tissues sense and respond to their mechanical environment.
The Biomedical Mechanics group offers a wide range of opportunities for collaboration on clinical projects, with current projects involving faculty from the College of Veterinary Medicine as we as the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Students and faculty in Biomedical Mechanics also have access to the Musculoskeletal Repair and Regeneration Core Center (MRRCC) at HSS, the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR), and the Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC).
The Biomedical Mechanics area has vibrant participation from a diverse population graduate students. Currently 24 PhD students work in this area, more than 50% of whom are women and more than 20% underrepresented minorities. These students have been very successful in obtaining competitive external awards, with 8 NSF and 1 NSERC fellowships among them. The Biomedical Mechanics faculty, postdocs, and PhD students participate in a weekly seminar series that started in 1996, with current attendance of 20-30. This seminar is primarily a vehicle for PhD students and fellows to present work, and also involves professional development and outside speakers.
Research Area Faculty
| Name | Department | Contact | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bonassar, Lawrence
Associate Professor, Associate Chair |
Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
149 Weill Hall 607 255-9381 |
|
Boskey, Adele
Professor |
Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell | |
|
Butcher, Jonathan T.
Assistant Professor |
Biomedical Engineering |
304 Weill Hall 607 255-3575 |
|
Erickson, David Carl
Associate Professor |
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
240 Upson Hall 607 255-4861 |
|
Fischbach-Teschl, Claudia
Assistant Professor |
Biomedical Engineering |
157 Weill Hall 607 255-4547 |
|
Gao, Yingxin
Assistant Professor |
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
Room 220 Upson Hall 607 255-1783 |
|
Hernandez, Christopher J.
Assistant Professor |
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering |
219 Upson Hall 607 255-5129 |
|
Jenkins, James Thomas
Walter S. Carpenter Jr. Professor of Engineering |
Civil and Environmental Engineering |
Room 263 Hollister Hall 607 255-7185 |
|
Lal, Amit
Professor |
Electrical and Computer Engineering |
Room 118 Phillips Hall 607 255-9374 |
|
Lammerding, Jan
Assistant Professor |
Biomedical Engineering |
235 Weill Hall 607 255-1700 |
|
Maher, Suzanne
Assistant Scientist |
Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell | |
|
Reinhart-King, Cynthia A.
Assistant Professor |
Biomedical Engineering |
302 Weill Hall 607 255-8491 |
|
Shen, Xiling
Assistant Professor |
Electrical and Computer Engineering | |
|
van der Meulen, Marjolein C.H.
Swanson Professor of Biomedical Engineering |
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
219 Upson Hall 607 255-1445 |
|
Wright, Timothy
Professor |
Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell |
The development of effective prostheses, such as artificial hips and knees, is one highly visible and societally important aspect of biomedical mechanics. The field also contributes significantly to understanding the effects of mechanical forces on cell physiology, tissue development, human locomotion and rehabilitation, and organ function.
Developing new orthopedic implants, primarily total joint replacement systems, has been an interest among Cornell researchers for years particularly in collaboration with the Hospital for Special Surgery. Current challenges include designing effective replacements for the wrist and shoulder, and extending the useful life of current knee and hip designs. Studies are also under way to examine new implant materials and their biological and mechanical interfaces.
Researchers are also studying the tissue, cellular, and molecular events that occur in the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems in response to genetic and biophysical factors such as mechanical loading, hormones, and growth factors. Integrated approaches include clinical studies of bone mineral acquisition during growth, experiments in skeletal functional adaptation and repair, and analytical models and analyses of bone growth, development, and adaptation. These are complemented by studies on tissue engineering of cartilage and bone.
The biomechanics of soft tissue is an emerging area of research that could have important contributions to human health. At Cornell, the biomechanics of the cardiovascular system is of particular interest. The mechanical properties of heart valves and blood vessels change dramatically in disease states, and understanding the role of these mechanical changes in the development of disease will provide essential information for the design of therapeutic approaches. Cornell researchers work on the design of replacemeent heart valves, particularly tissue engineered valves, as well as tissue engineered blood vessels.
