AMS research program Tissue Function & Regeneration

The increase in life expectancy in western society results in an increasing population suffering from chronic diseases, concomitant with reduced physical activity.

This is associated with injury, wounds, and loss of bone and muscle tissue and strength. On the other hand, sports- and accident-related (traumatic) injuries are increasingly common. This often results in altered structure and mechanical function of musculoskeletal/skin tissues, which need to be repaired or adapted.

Overall Aim

Successful regeneration or adaptation of muscle, tendon, bone, cartilage and skin requires optimal cellular conditions. Those conditions are determined by systemic factors, such as biochemical changes in the circulation that alter the niche of the cells, and by local factors, such as external loads, niche stiffness and architecture, availability of nutrients, oxygen, as well as presence or absence of signalling molecules such as growth factors, cytokines, and steroids.

This program integrates molecular biology, cell physiology, chemistry, biophysics, bioengineering, and medicine across various levels of organization (from cell to organ to whole organism and back) to study structure-function relationships, adaptation and regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues. For innovative solutions in clinical cases there is a need in intensive collaboration between researchers and clinicians. One of the aims of AMS this program is to develop a platform on which researchers, engineers and clinicians work multidisciplinary on clinical issues.