• Computational modeling
• Biomechanics
• Finite element analysis
• Tissue engineering

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent disease, affecting 1 in 8 adults worldwide, and with projections indicating a concerning rise in overall cases in the next decades. Its dynamics is driven by a complex interplay of mechanical, genetic, metabolic, and inflammatory factors, making the development of effective treatments particularly challenging. Given this complexity, in silico modeling is likely to play an important role in designing, guiding, and evaluating new therapeutic approaches. Currently, no available models mechanistically couple the multiscale mechanics of the joint with the intricate biological signaling, limiting their potential for the design of regenerative strategies. This project aims to bridge this gap by developing a multiscale model of the knee joint capable of capturing the complex processes underlying cartilage homeostasis and OA progression. A particular focus will be placed on mechanotransduction and inflammation, enabling the linkage of organ-, tissue-, and cellular-level mechanical dynamics with biological intracellular signaling pathways. Available experimental results from in vitro and in vivo tools will serve to complete the model and validate its predictions. The model will be applied to explore endogenous repair strategies by identifying relevant druggable targets, paving the way for effective OA treatments.

Since February 2025

• Master of Science (MSc) in Biomedical Engineering, 2024
  Professional focus in Biomechanics, Biomaterials, and Tissue Engineering
  University of Liège, Belgium
  Master’s thesis at the Non-Linear Computational Mechanics Laboratory (University of Liège, Pr. J.-P. Ponthot): Application of the PFEM to the study of blood flows and their interactions with artery walls

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering, 2022
  University of Liège, Belgium

List of publications

jeanne.delhez [at] kuleuven.be
j.delhez [at] uliege.be

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