Dr Raelene Cowie

Profile

Prior to starting my post in Leeds, I obtained a degree and PhD from the Department of Engineering Materials at the University of Sheffield investigating "The effect of high frequency, low intensity vibration on the proliferation of MSCs cultured in osteogenic and adipogenic medium and Achilles, patellar and tail tendon derived cells".  This then led to an ARC UK funded post to provide biological validation for the ‘Virtual Tendon’ project which was a collaboration between Computer Science, Medical Physics and Human Metabolism with the aim of developing a computer model of tendon growth and response to applied tensile stress.

Research interests

My current research focuses on the biotribology of knee prostheses and early interventions in the knee. Experimental simulation has been used to investigate the wear performance of a novel all-polymer knee implant and methodologies have been developed to deliver more rigorous pre-clinical tests to replacement joints under conditions which recreate the wear and damage seen in vivo. This research is translational, being primarily funded by external industry collaborations.  The simulation methods and analysis techniques which were originally developed for artificial materials are being transferred to natural joints to investigate the tribology and biomechanics of osteochondral interventions.   

To find out more about the Institute of Medical & Biological Engineering's research visit imbe.leeds.ac.uk.

Qualifications

• MEng (Hons) Biomaterials Science and Tissue Engineering
• PhD
• PGCert Professional Innovation Management

Research groups and institutes

• Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering