Modeling of biological phenomena has always been an appealing research area through which an advanced understanding of physiology for further improvement of health care is possible. In computational modeling, there is the potential to explore complex interactions in biological systems and the possibility to develop novel therapeutic interventions, rehabilitation programs, diagnostics, and surgery techniques. Despite these likely benefits, simulation-based medicine is a rare practice and the discipline has been usually constrained to research environments due to time-consuming nature of model development and solution, lack of patient-specificity, and difficulties in model parameter estimations. In order to promote the utility of computer modeling and simulation in medicine, our specific goals are

• to provide cost-effective and efficient computational tools and interfaces to support diagnostics, decision-making, treatment and intervention design, and
• to advance scientific understanding of biological function through computational modeling in multiple domains, scales and physics.

Relevant to the former goal, our team has been providing solutions to address practical problems in the clinics from insole design for patients with diabetes to evaluation of trochlear osteotomy. As part of the latter research area, we couple simulation domains and spatial scales of musculoskeletal biomechanics and tissue mechanics to explore healthy and diseased function of the human body. We managed to adequately and cost-effectively couple musculoskeletal movement simulations and tissue deformations. Our current work is focused on coupling simulations of tissue deformations with those of the cells. This requirement became evident since mechanically induced cellular function and damage (as seen in osteoarthritis, a debilitating disease estimated to influence 26.5 million people only in the US) can be predicted by establishing the pathway from body level mechanical forces. Preventive procedures and interventions can be designed to accommodate the dysfunction of this mechanical pathway.

See more about research program.

Computational modeling and simulation and its application to biological and clinical problems dictate an interdisciplinary approach. To pursue our research goals, we have established collaborations with many distinguished investigators:

• Marko Ackermann, Dr.-Ing
• Frank Baaijens, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology
• Bhushan Borotikar, DEng, Functional and Applied Biomechanics Section, National Institutes of Health
• Scott Delp, PhD, Simbios, NIH Center for Biomedical Computation at Stanford, Stanford University
• Farshid Guilak, PhD, Orthopaedic Bioengineering Laboratory, Duke University Medical Center
• Cees Oomens, PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology
• Tammy Owings, DEng, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic
• Rene van Donkelaar, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology
• Ton van den Bogert, PhD, Orchard Kinetics, LLC
• Amit Vasanji, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic
• Jeff Weiss, PhD, Musculoskeletal Research Laboratories, University of Utah

We also closely work with a wide range of research and clinical groups to pursue simulation-based medicine. Details of these collaborations can be found at Computational Biomodeling (CoBi) Core site, http://www.lerner.ccf.org/bme/cobi/.

Predicting Cell Deformation from Body Level Mechanical Loads
• R01EB009643 (PI: Erdemir) - 08/01/2009 - 07/31/2013
• National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
  National Institutes of Health

Efficient Methods for Multi-Domain Biomechanical Simulations
• R01EB006735 (PI: van den Bogert; Co-I: Erdemir) - 09/11/2006 - 08/31/2009
• National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
  National Institutes of Health

Faculty Start-up Funds
• 06/01/2010 – 05/31/2013
• Department of Biomedical Engineering
  Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic

1. Halloran, J. P., Ackermann, M., Erdemir, A. and van den Bogert, A. J. (2010) Concurrent musculoskeletal dynamics and finite element analysis predicts altered gait patterns to reduce foot tissue loading, Journal of Biomechanics, Epub ahead of print. PubMed
2. Erdemir, A., Srimamilla, P. A., Halloran, J. P. and van den Bogert, A. J. (2009) An elaborate data set characterizing the mechanical response of the foot, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 131, 094502. PubMed
3. Tawhai, M., Bischoff, J., Einstein, D., Erdemir, A., Guess, T. and Reinbolt, J. (2009) Multiscale modeling in computational biomechanics: determining computational priorities and addressing current challenges, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine, Special Issue: Multiscale Modeling, 28, 41-49. PubMed
4. Halloran, J. P., Erdemir, A., and van den Bogert, A. J. (2009) Adaptive surrogate modeling for efficient coupling of musculoskeletal control and tissue deformation models, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 131, 011014. PubMed
5. Petre, M., Erdemir, A., and Cavanagh, P. R. (2008) A MRI compatible foot loading device for visualization of internal strain, Journal of Biomechanics, 41, 470-474. PubMed
6. Yavuz, M., Erdemir, A., Botek, G., Hirschman, G. B., Bardsley, L. and Davis, B. L. (2007) Peak plantar pressure and shear locations: relevance to diabetic patients, Diabetes Care, 30, 2643-2645. PubMed
7. Donley, B. G., Jambor, C., Erdemir, A., Sferra, J. and Cavanagh, P. (2007) Effect of pilot-hole size on the pullout strength of flexor digitorum longus transfer fixed with a bioabsorbable screw, Foot and Ankle International, 28, 1078-1081. PubMed
8. Budhabhatti, S., Erdemir, A., Petre, M., Sferra, J., Donley, B. and Cavanagh, P. R. (2007) Finite element modeling of the first ray of the foot: a tool for the design of interventions, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 129, 750-756. PubMed
9. Erdemir, A., McLean, S., Herzog, W. and van den Bogert, A. J. (2007) Model-based estimation of muscle forces exerted during movements, Clinical Biomechanics, 22, 131-154. PubMed
10. Petre, M., Erdemir, A. and Cavanagh, P. R. (2006) Determination of elastomeric foam parameters for simulations of complex loading, Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 9, 231-242. PubMed
11. Goske, S., Erdemir, A., Petre, M., Budhabhatti, S. and Cavanagh, P. R. (2006) Reduction of plantar heel pressures: insole design using finite element analysis, Journal of Biomechanics, 39, 2363-2370. PubMed
12. Erdemir, A., Viverios, M. L., Ulbrecht, J. S. and Cavanagh, P. R. (2006) An inverse finite element model of heel pad indentation, Journal of Biomechanics, 39, 1279-1286. PubMed
13. Erdemir, A., Saucerman, J. J., Lemmon, D., Loppnow, B., Turso, B., Ulbrecht, J. S. and Cavanagh, P. (2005) Local plantar pressure relief in therapeutic footwear: design guidelines from finite element models, Journal of Biomechanics, 38, 1798-1806. PubMed
14. Erdemir, A. and Piazza, S. J. (2004) Changes in foot loading following plantar fasciotomy: a computer modeling study, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 126, 237-243. PubMed
15. Erdemir, A., Hamel, A. J., Fauth, A. R., Piazza, S. J. and Sharkey, N. A. (2004) Dynamic loading of the plantar aponeurosis in walking, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 86-A, 546-552. PubMed
16. Piazza, S. J., Erdemir, A., Okita, N. and Cavanagh, P. R. (2004) Assessment of the functional method of hip joint center location subject to reduced range of hip motion, Journal of Biomechanics, 37: 349-356. PubMed
17. Erdemir, A., Hamel, A. J., Piazza, S.J. and Sharkey, N. A. (2003) Fiberoptic measurement of tendon forces is influenced by skin movement artifact, Journal of Biomechanics, 36: 449-455. PubMed
18. Erdemir, A., Piazza, S. J. and Sharkey, N. A. (2002) Influence of loading rate and cable migration on fiberoptic measurement of tendon force, Journal of Biomechanics, 35: 857-862. PubMed
19. Erdemir, A. and Piazza, S. J. (2002) Rotational foot placement specifies the lever arm of the ground reaction force during the push-off phase of walking initiation, Gait & Posture, 15: 212-219. PubMed