We are interested in how the soft tissues of the body respond to and are influenced by mechanical loading. Our research spans basic research in tissue mechanics to applied studies in traumatic injury prevention. We study the tissues of the central nervous system - brain and spinal cord, and also other soft organs and muscles.
From a background in biomechanical engineering, the focus of my research is on how the nervous system responds to mechanical loading - both those loads which cause injury and those which are part of normal function. Basic research includes developing novel imaging methods for understanding mechanical properties of body tissues, models of spinal cord injury, and sleep apnoea biomechanics. Our applied research includes studying injuries in car crashes, particularly to children and rear seat occupants.
Child injury - road trauma is a leading cause of death and disabling injury for childrenOur group is studying how road trauma injuries occur in children, and how changes to the types and design of restraints used by children can reduce serious injuries and death. |
Effects of mechanical loads on the nervous systemA study of how mechanical forces affect the tissues of the human nervous system is being undertaken by our team. |
Magnetic resonance elastographyA new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique to measure the stiffness of the brain, muscles and other tissues is being used in the project. |
Upper airway biomechanicsThe mechanical properties and motion of muscles that surround the upper airway and how these change in sleep apnoea patients are being investigated in our laboratory. |
