Advancing Impact Biomechanics and Biomaterials for Enhanced Protection

We’ve focused on how biomaterials, similar to human brain tissue, respond to stress, particularly in head injuries. By developing models that closely mimic real human brain tissue, using special gels, we’ve made breakthroughs in brain tissue engineering research. We are currently using this knowledge to create realistic and breakable models of the head and neck to help predict brain injuries during sports activities.

Our study on brain tissue and simulants has greatly improved the biofidelity of models used in head injury research and provided valuable insights for designing safer helmets and protective gear. Moreover, we’ve pioneered a new computer method to predict neck injuries (whiplash) more accurately in impacts and vehicle collisions. This method uniquely tracks stresses and strains from the start, revealing how different initial positions can change injury outcomes.

This approach is now being adopted by the Global Human Body Model Consortium (GHBMC) to enhance injury prediction in side impacts and collisions. This work is vital for developing more accurate computational models of the human head, guiding material selection in research, and ultimately contributing to safer automotive designs and protective strategies. Our ongoing projects include:

• Development of Biofidelic Head-Neck Model for Injury Prediction
• Biofidelic tissue simulants for scalp and skull