Nowlan:Research

Research Field

Dr. Niamh Nowlan combines experimental and computational approaches to the study of the role of mechanical forces on prenatal skeletal development. When there is not enough movement in the womb, bones and joints can be severely affected, but the underlying reasons are not well understood. It is unclear how much movement, and what type of movements, are important for normal development of the skeleton. The multidisciplinary research being conducted by Dr. Nowlan and her research team will enhance our fundamental understanding of the role of mechanical forces on the formation, adaptation and maintenance of healthy cartilage and bone.

Key Topics

   Mechanobiology of the developing skeleton
   The effects of abnormal prenatal movements on bone and joint development
   Joint morphogenesis
   Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
   Model systems of abnormal prenatal movement
   Mechanobiological computational models of skeletogenesis
   Using computational simulations to explore the evolution of human bone