Biodesign Program, Research

1
Christopher Jacobs Associate Professor,
ME Director, VA Rehab RD Center
Cell Mol Biomechanics, VAMERL
2
VA COE on Bone and Joint Rehab

• Bench to Bedside approach to physical factors in
  skeletal disease (Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis)
  Cellular mechanism to clinical trial.
• 9 faculty, 5 dual with SU, (Jacobs, Giori,
  Andriacchi, Zajac, Carter, Smith, Beaupre,
  Patten, Murray), 25FTEs, 3M/yr.
• Wetlabs, Materials Testing, Biomotion (gait),
  Bone Densitometry, MicroCT (10 micron in vivo),
  Open mini-MRI

3
Cell Mol Biomechanics (Jacobs)

• Understanding the mechanism by which skeletal
  tissues sense and respond to mechanical loading
  at a cellular level. ESP Bone Fluid flow due to
  loading
• Cell culture fluid flow models, biochemical
  signal transduction (esp Ca signaling), gene
  expression (real-time RT-PCR, arrays), artificial
  micro-fluidic environments, role of structural
  molecules (ECM linkers, glycocalyx, transmembrane
  linkers, cytoskeleton, integrins, cell-cell
  adhesion).