Multiscale Mechanobiology and Diagnostic Biomechanics
Research
Research in the Walter Lab focuses on understanding the role biomechanical factors play in the onset and progression of low back pain and how such knowledge can be harnessed to inform treatment and improve diagnosis.
Multiscale mechanobiology: utilizing cell biology, tissue mechanics and mathematical models to better understand how mechanical cues are translated across multiple spatial scales and regulate cellular function in health and disease.
Diagnostic biomechanics: utilizing biomechanical measurements, including magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), to improve patient identification and selection for the appropriate treatment.
Accordions
2018
Nakazawa KR, Walter BA, Laudier DM, Krishnamoorthy D, Mosley GE, Spiller KL, Iatridis JC (2018) Accumulation and localization of macrophage phenotypes with human intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine J 18(2) 343–356.
Le P, Aurand A, Walter BA, Best TM, Khan SN, Mendel E, Marras WS (2018) Development of a lumbar EMG-based coactivation index for the assessment of complex dynamic tasks. Ergonomics 61(3) 381–389.
2017
Walter BA, Mageswaran P, Mo X, Boulter DJ, Mashaly H, Nguyen XV, Prevedello LM, Thoman W, Raterman BD, Kalra P, Mendel E, Marras WS, Kolipaka A (2017) MR elastography–derived stiffness: a biomarker for intervertebral disc degeneration. Radiology 285(1) 167–175.
2016
Walter B, Purmessur D, Moon A, Occhiogrosso J, Laudier D, Hecht A, Iatridis J (2016) Reduced tissue osmolarity increases TRPV4 expression and pro-inflammatory cytokines in intervertebral disc cells. Eur Cell Mater 32 123–136.
Likhitpanichkul M, Torre OM, Gruen J, Walter BA, Hecht AC, Iatridis JC (2016) Do mechanical strain and TNF-α interact to amplify pro-inflammatory cytokine production in human annulus fibrosus cells? J Biomech 49(7) 1214–1220.
2015
Walter BA, Likhitpanichkul M, Illien-Junger S, Roughley PJ, Hecht AC, Iatridis JC (2015) TNFα transport induced by dynamic loading alters biomechanics of intact intervertebral discs. PLOS ONE 10(3) e0118358.
Walter BA, Purmessur D, Likhitpanichkul M, Weinberg A, Cho SK, Qureshi SA, Hecht AC, Iatridis JC (2015) Inflammatory kinetics and efficacy of anti-inflammatory treatments on human nucleus pulposus cells. Spine 40(13) 955–963.
Walter BA, Torre OM, Laudier D, Naidich TP, Hecht AC, Iatridis JC (2015) Form and function of the intervertebral disc in health and disease: a morphological and stain comparison study. J Anat 227(6) 707–716.
2014
Illien-Jünger S, Lu Y, Purmessur D, Mayer JE, Walter BA, Roughley PJ, Qureshi SA, Hecht AC, Iatridis JC (2014) Detrimental effects of discectomy on intervertebral disc biology can be decelerated by growth factor treatment during surgery: a large animal organ culture model. Spine J 14(11) 2724–2732.
Likhitpanichkul M, Dreischarf M, Illien-Junger S, Walter B, Nukaga T, Long R, Sakai D, Hecht A, Iatridis J (2014) Fibrin-genipin adhesive hydrogel for annulus fibrosus repair: performance evaluation with large animal organ culture, in situ biomechanics, and in vivo degradation tests. Eur Cell Mater 28 25–38.
2013
Purmessur D, Walter BA, Roughley PJ, Laudier DM, Hecht AC, Iatridis J (2013) A role for TNFα in intervertebral disc degeneration: a non-recoverable catabolic shift. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 433(1) 151–156.
Iatridis JC, Nicoll SB, Michalek AJ, Walter BA, Gupta MS (2013) Role of biomechanics in intervertebral disc degeneration and regenerative therapies: what needs repairing in the disc and what are promising biomaterials for its repair? Spine J 13(3) 243–262.
