Our Team

 

 

 

Lou DeFrate, Sc.D.Vice Chair of Biomechanics, Movement, and Imaging Research
Vice Chair of Biomechanics, Movement, and Imaging Research
Laszlo Ormandy Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Material Science
Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering
Director, Michael W. Krzyzewski Human Performance Laboratory

 

 

Patrick Bradley, B.S.
Patrick is a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering and materials science. His research interests include gait biomechanics, knee joint mechanics during dynamic loading, and the development of osteoarthritis post-traumatic injury.
mailto:patrick.bradley@duke.edu

 

Amber Collins, Ph.D.
Amber is a Senior Research Associate currently using various imaging modalities (MRI-DESS and T1rho) to specifically quantify cartilage strain and glycosaminoglycan content in those post ACL injury and in those with a high BMI as a means of better understanding the role of injury and obesity in cartilage degradation. Additionally, Amber hopes to investigate gait biomechanics as a way of bridging the gap between activities of daily living to in vivo biomechanical and biochemical properties of cartilage.  
mailto:amber.collins@duke.edu

 

 

James Coppock, M.S.
James is a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering. He is currently investigating risk factors associated with the development of low back pain by examining the mechanical and biochemical responses of the intervertebral discs to acute exercise interventions.
mailto:james.coppock@duke.edu

 

 

Stephanie Danyluk, M.S.
Stephanie is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the DeFrate Lab. Her role in the lab is mostly regulatory, as she manages all clinical studies involving patients. She makes sure that each study is conducted efficiently, safely, and within the guidelines of ICH’s “good clinical practice.” Within her role, she deals directly with research participants, investigators, and the Institutional Review Board.
mailto:stephanie.d.thompson@duke.edu

 

 

Imoh Udoh, M.D. Candidate, Class of 2024
Imoh Udoh is a third-year medical student interested in investigating the role of arthroscopic surgery in post-stabilization arthritis in patients with anterior shoulder instability using an advanced quantitative MRI technique to ultimately enhance clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.
mailto:imoh.udoh@duke.edu

 

 

Jacqueline Foody, B.S.
Jacqueline is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering studying knee biomechanics, in particular the mechanisms associated with ACL injuries. She is currently investigating the dynamic and morphological factors that may be associated with increased risk for non-contact ACL rupture.
mailto:jacqueline.foody@duke.edu

 

 

Sally Kuehn, B.S.
Sally is a medical student interested in orthopedic surgery. Her research interests include sex differences in knee biomechanics and risk for ACL injury.
mailto:sally.kuehn@duke.edu

 

 

Grace Li, B.S.
Grace is a mater’s student in biomedical engineering.  Her research interests include how ACL injuries and ACL reconstruction affects knee joint kinematics.
mailto:grace.li@duke.edu

 

 

Xingqi Su, B.S.
Su is a PhD in biomedical engineering. Her research interests include post-traumatic osteoarthritis and biomechanics of the knee, hip, and spine.
mailto:xingqi.su@duke.edu

 

 

Karl Thomas, B.A.
Karl Thomas is a Research Technician II investigating biochemical changes that result from ACL and meniscus injuries, as well as the impact of weight loss on cartilage strain and osteoarthritis development.
mailto:karl.thomas@duke.edu

 

Jack Twomey-Kozak, B.S.
Jack is a medical student working on a clinical trial seeking to evaluate recombinant parathyroid hormone (PTH) as a chondro-regenerative therapy for human knee osteoarthritis (OA). Jack is performing the image processing and cartilage strain analyses to investigate how drug-modulation of the PTH signaling pathway affects the biomechanical properties and composition of osteoarthritic knee cartilage. He is interested in integrating the disciplines of cell/molecular biology and biomedical engineering to devise solutions for sports-related orthopaedic injuries and post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

 

 

Nicole Zimmer, B.S.
Nicole is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering investigating biomechanical and biochemical biomarkers of low back pain. Her other research interests include sex differences in lumbar spine biomechanics and low back pain.
mailto:nicole.zimmer@duke.edu