Researcher Donald Anderson, Ph.D. Receives Major Peer Award

Donald D. Anderson, Ph.D., a professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, is being recognized as one of the top medical and biological engineers in the country. The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering has elected Dr. Anderson to its College of Fellows; he will join 152 other fellows at an induction ceremony on March 25.

Dr. Anderson is being recognized in particular for his work on computational analysis and modeling of how mechanical factors in the musculoskeletal system influence clinical outcomes in orthopedics.

The Richard and Jan Johnston Chair of Orthopedic Biomechanics and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Dr. Anderson has conducted research on how abnormal joint mechanics contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA).

Dr. Anderson told OTW, “I have endeavored to answer scientific questions in a manner that adds to our understanding of musculoskeletal disorders and that can also be used to improve treatment. I employ the tools of image analysis, computer modeling, and computational stress analysis to objectively quantify phenomena previously only assessed subjectively. An area of emphasis has been understanding the abnormal mechanics involved in the development of OA, one of the most common causes of disability in adults, especially as it develops following trauma to an articular joint.”

“Over the past two decades, we have developed novel enabling technologies that provide objective mechanical indices of injury severity and of chronic contact stress challenge to fractured joint surfaces, working to disentangle the mechanical factors that contribute to post-traumatic OA risk. The severity of the initial joint injury is indexed primarily on the basis of the energy released in fracture, obtained from digital image analysis of CT scans. Chronic contact stress elevations are indexed by patient-specific finite element analysis, using computer models derived from post-operative CT.”

“These biomechanical indices of joint insult, conceived, advanced, and validated in the laboratory, are now being related to the incidence and severity of post-traumatic OA in clinical studies. This line of research provides a solid framework (and the necessary tools) for devising and testing new approaches to forestall post-traumatic OA following intra-articular fractures.”

“I am humbled by being named a Fellow of The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. In many ways it is a testimonial to my longevity in the field, but it is also a clear statement that my peers consider the work I do valuable and appropriately rigorous. I became a biomedical engineer so that I might one day be able to improve the treatment of patients to relieve suffering and maintain/restore mobility. Being an engineer performing research in orthopedics throughout my career has challenged me to be a better engineer scientist, while also learning as much as I can about musculoskeletal conditions and their treatment. I’ve enjoyed nearly every step along the way.”