Acute and Chronic Loading of Orthopaedic Tissues

Articular cartilage is the hydrated porous material that lines the ends of long bones in mammalian joints. In its healthy state, articular cartilage functions as a remarkable bearing material that can support a lifetime of joint loading and interfacial sliding. In this talk, I will discuss how the multiphasic mechanics of cartilage make this possible, how everyday activities modulate its structure and function, and how these processes unravel during degeneration. Building on this theme, we will transition from articular joints to the spine, examining the mechanical underpinnings of scoliosis. I will share insights from our imaging and modeling studies that aim to probe the mechanisms of spinal growth modulation and deformity progression. 

Axel Moore is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. He earned his PhD from the University of Delaware and completed postdoctoral training at Imperial College London. Before joining Carnegie Mellon, he worked as a Biomedical Research Scientist at the University of Delaware. Dr. Moore’s research program integrates imaging, biomechanics, and robotics to understand how acute and chronic in vivo loading influences musculoskeletal tissue health and degeneration. His lab’s work spans from quantifying cartilage mechanics during everyday activities to developing new models for spinal deformity and growth modulation.