Mark Driscoll

Global interests reside in improving the biomechanical understanding of mechanisms that govern our musculoskeletal system. The use of complementary research platforms (in vivo, ex vivo, and in silico) foster novel findings towards the understanding of healthy system and the onset and/or pathomechanism of musculoskeletal disorders. Such translational research is interdisciplinary and requires a multifaceted approach to promote the engineering conception and design of new mechanical solutions.

More specifically, the laboratory seeks to better understand the control system governing spinal stability. Of further interest is how this control system responds when mechanical biases are introduced resulting in physiological stress shielding. Spinal stability is sought via an intricate control system to which we all benefit from intrinsically. In a flawed or unstable system, the manner in which this control system responds to perturbations, originating from a mechanical bias for example, is of interest and explored. Control mechanisms of focus are the passive tissues, such as fascia, and the structural integrity of enclosed cavities such as abdominal and thoracic compliance. Moreover, the mechanical performance of current and future medical devices are also studied.