Key research themes
1. How do mechanical loading parameters regulate bone mechanobiology and adaptation at cellular and tissue scales?
This theme focuses on understanding how bones sense and respond to mechanical stimuli at multiple biological scales. It emphasizes the cellular mechanotransduction processes, especially the role of osteocytes, and how dynamic mechanical loading regimes (strain magnitude, frequency, rate, and rest periods) influence bone formation, resorption, and overall remodeling. Such knowledge is critical for developing clinical interventions targeting bone strengthening and preventing fragility.
2. How do hierarchical bone structure and material properties determine whole bone mechanical behavior and influence site-specific adaptation?
This theme investigates the mechanical behavior of bone as a hierarchical composite organ, linking microstructural features such as mineralized collagen fibril orientation and porosity to macroscopic mechanical properties and deformation patterns under load. It highlights the complexity in predicting whole bone mechanical responses based on tissue-level material properties and geometry, underpinning adaptive remodeling and failure risks.
3. How can multiscale computational models integrating cell biology, biomechanics, and mechanoregulation predict bone remodeling and pathological alterations?
This theme addresses the development and application of mathematical and computational models that couple biochemical signaling in bone cells with mechanical stimuli and tissue-scale properties to simulate site-specific remodeling. Such models aid in predicting normal and pathological bone adaptation (e.g., osteoporosis, disuse), enabling better understanding of disease progression and therapeutic outcomes.