University of California, Berkeley Mechanical Engineering

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Berkeley Biomechanics Laboratory – O’Connell Lab

Associate Professor Grace O’Connell
5122 Etcheverry Hall

Lab Website: oconnell.berkeley.edu

Our lab is focused on soft tissue biomechanics and tissue regeneration. Specifically, our goal is to understand the mechanical function of the healthy, degenerated and injured soft tissues, including the intervertebral disc and articular cartilage, in order to develop more physiologically relevant repair strategies. Injury, through herniation, or degeneration may lead to debilitating lower back pain. Current research is focused on understanding alterations in biomechanics with tissue remodeling with degeneration and injury. Other studies are focused on using organ culture techniques to directly measure tissue remodeling and potential biological repair strategies. Our laboratory collaborates closely with other labs in the Berkeley Biomechanics Laboratory, including Professors Tony Keaveny and Lisa Pruitt.