We are thrilled to announce that Dr. David Wilson, Professor and Head, Division of Orthopaedics Research, has been awarded a NSERC Discovery Grant to support his innovative research program focused on understanding the complex mechanics of the human hip joint.
The NSERC Discovery Grants program supports ongoing programs of research with long-term goals. These grants are designed to foster creativity and innovation—key drivers of scientific advancement.
Dr. Wilson’s long-term research initiative aims to develop advanced methods for assessing joint mechanics under physiological conditions. By doing so, Dr. Wilson and his team seek to uncover how natural variations in the properties of individual joint structures contribute to the overall mechanical function of the joint.
Over the next five years, the program will focus on using Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) to study hip mechanics and will focus on three short-term objectives:
- Aim 1: Develop CECT to measure compressive strain distribution in hip cartilage, and apply it to study differences in strain between male and female hips under a range of loading conditions.
- Aim 2: Determine the relationship between compressive stiffness and CECT attenuation in hip cartilage, and identify differences in stiffness patterns between male and female hips.
- Aim 3: Investigate the relationship between CECT attenuation and compressive cartilage strain in hip cartilage.
These studies will provide critical insights into joint function and could have far-reaching implications for diagnosing and treating joint disorders.
“The NSERC Discovery Grant program has funded me from day one. This program provides stable funding for technical developments and has great opportunities for more funding, particularly for trainees and industry collaborations”
– Dr. David Wilson, Professor and Head, Division of Orthopaedics Research
We congratulate Dr. Wilson on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the exciting discoveries his research will bring to the field of biomechanics.
Learn more
- UBC Research + Innovation: More than $48.6m awarded to UBC researchers through NSERC 2025 Discovery Research Program
- UBC Faculty of Medcine: UBC Medicine researchers awarded federal funding for 35 projects addressing key health priorities
Latest News for Dr. David Wilson
- Dr. David Wilson Awarded NSERC Discovery Grant for Advancing Hip Mechanics Research
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