The project I am working with is "Functional imaging of bone to improve osteoporosis diagnostics". 

Osteoporosis is defined as low bone mass, and results in a markedly increased risk of skeletal fractures. Development of new drugs to reduce bone loss or increase bone mass is promising. However, it requires that the individuals at risk can be accurately identified. Current osteoporosis diagnostics is largely based on measurements of bone mineral density (BMD), using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the hip or the lumbar spine. DXA based BMD is only a moderate predictor of fracture risk. 

Our research aims at improving osteoporosis diagnosis and fracture risk assessment. This will be accomplished by combining DXA imaging, a pre-developed shape template, statistical shape modeling, and finite element analysis (FEA).

The project develops a method to estimate the 3D geometry of the hip bone based on a 2D image and a shape template. This method should be able to describe both the external geometry and the internal bone mineral density distribution. Thereafter the shape template and the 2D image of the patient, is used together with finite element analyses to assess the bone strength and the individuals' fracture risk.

My role in the project is to develop reliable subject-specific FE models of human femora aimed at predicting bone strength and, ultimately, fracture risk for individuals. During the FE modelling phase I also have to design and execute proper experimental benchmarks for FE model validation.

I am teaching assistant, with different levels of responsibility, for the following courses:

• Introduktion till medicin och teknik (EITA01)
• Biomechanics (BMEN05)
• Tissue biomechanics (BMEN10)