Research Line of Orthopaedic Biomechanics

Intervertebral Disc

Low back pain is one of the most common causes of disability for individuals of working age in developed countries.

Low back pain is one of the most common causes of disability for individuals of working age in developed countries. There are many causes of low back pain, and it is generally believed that degenerative disc disease is one of the most prevalent. Our goal is to understand the basic mechanisms of disc degeneration and to develop long-term functional treatments for this condition. The strategy focuses on: exploring deficient nutrition and mechanical loading as mechanotransduction mechanisms of cellular stimulated degeneration; how these degenerative changes may cause failure of disc function; and then using this understanding to explore tissue engineering approaches towards disc regeneration.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is 3D deformity of the spine that affects previously healthy children, substantially reducing their quality of life and creating a life-long burden of disease. Although known since the ancient Greeks, a cure remains elusive because its cause and mechanism of disease are still unknown. Recently, it has been shown that the deformity begins in the IVD, and we have developed a hypothesis that AIS is caused by a complex perfect storm of anatomical, biomechanical and mechanobiological causes in the IVD. We are exploring this disease mechanism to identify  predictive triggers that can be used for its prevention and early treatment.

Current Projects

Project of Intervertebral Disc

Deciphering the Role of Morphogens in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Onset

Our research investigates the influence of growthplate morphogens on outer intervertebral disc tissue formation, remodeling, and repair,…

Project of Intervertebral Disc

Automatic segmentation and mesh morphing of the spine

Through automatic segmentation and subject-specific modeling of the spine, detailed morphometric and biomechanical studies of large patient…

Project of Intervertebral Disc

Alterations to intervertebral disc tissue physical properties with maturity

Our research investigates the association between Intervertebral disc properties and its maturity to determine whether experienced strains…

Project of Intervertebral Disc

In silico investigation of spinal instability and IVD strain

Subject-specific spine models are used to detect rotational instability and to investigate if it results in significantly higher high disc…

Project of Intervertebral Disc

A platform to study intervertebral disc regeneration strategies

Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide with 8 out of 10 people experiencing it at some point in their life.

Project of Intervertebral Disc

A novel biomimetic artificial intervertebral disc: Preserving natural spinal interactions and functions with an integrated biomimetic design

Many people suffer from neck pain resulting from diseases of the intervertebral disc (IVD), such as herniation and degeneration.

Project of Intervertebral Disc

Regeneration of the intervertebral disc using decellularized notochordal cell-derived extracellular matrix

Intervertebral discs (IVDs) are an essential component of the functioning spine in vertebrates.