Author: Rosa Armitage

We are thrilled to announce the remarkable achievement of Centre Director Prof. Yuantong Gu and Postdoc Dr. Laith Alzubaidi at the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics, who have been ranked in the top 2% of scientists globally by Stanford University for 2022. This recognition not only underscores their individual contributions but also highlights the center’s commitment to research excellence and the exceptional quality of work being produced.

The ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics has long been at the forefront of cutting-edge research, and this recent accolade further solidifies its standing in the academic community. The centre has been actively involved in advancing knowledge across various disciplines, including Applied Mathematics, Nanoscience, Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing, and Information & Communication Technologies.

In a recent journal excerpt discussing citation metrics, the importance of standardized information on citations, h-index, and other indicators is emphasized. The Training Center for Joint Biomechanics has contributed significantly to the scientific community by creating a publicly available database of top-cited scientists. This database provides crucial insights into the impact of research outputs, including co-authorship-adjusted metrics and a composite indicator (c-score).

Moreover, the centre has been a pioneer in joint biomechanics and deep learning algorithms for medical image analysis. Dr. Laith Alzubaidi, a Postdoc at the center specializing in Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing and Information & Communication Technologies, has been instrumental in advancing these research areas. His work at the intersection of deep learning and medical image analysis has showcased the potential for transformative applications in healthcare.

At the core of the centre’s research philosophy is a commitment to excellence, and this recognition by Stanford University serves as a testament to that commitment. Achieving a position in the top 2% of scientists is no small feat and is indicative of the impact that training centre has on the global research landscape.

The importance of research excellence is not only measured by individual achievements but also by the collective impact of research outputs and ranking publications.

In conclusion, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Centre Director Prof. Yuantong Gu and Postdoc Dr. Laith Alzubaidi on this well-deserved recognition. As we continue to push the boundaries of knowledge, we look forward to witnessing further breakthroughs and contributions from the centre in the realms of joint biomechanics, deep learning algorithms, and beyond.

For more details on this achievement, you can visit the following links:

https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/6

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000384

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000918

 

Congratulations to Natalia Mühl Castoldi, a dedicated affiliate PhD student who was awarded first place in the QUT Faculty of Engineering and University Competition 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) with her presentation, ‘Backs to the Future: Modelling Scoliosis on October 6, 2023.

This is a significant achievement, marking the end of her PhD journey at QUT as she submitted her final thesis the day prior.

The 3MT was originally envisioned by Prof Al McEwan, the previous Director of the University of Queensland’s Graduate School who was inspired by QLD’s time of drought and 3-minute shower timers to create the elevated pitch competition back in 2008. 

The skill of effectively communicating research and its significance to diverse audiences is a crucial attribute for any accomplished researcher. QUT’s Graduate Research Education & Development hosts the annual Graduate Research Student Showcase, which includes the international competition, Three Minute Thesis (3MT) as part of our commitment to world-class researchers who can refine their academic, presentation, and research communication skills.  

Participants are tasked with the challenging assignment of summarizing their research and its significance in a concise three-minute presentation aimed at a non-specialist audience.  Natalia’s dedication and innovative research have garnered recognition from the judging panel, with the inclusion of biochemical effects in her model. This inclusion creates a more accurate model that can be used to investigate a wider range of theories of the cause of scoliosis. Once aetiology can be attained the treatment for scoliosis will improve dramatically, increasing positive outcomes for people with the diagnosis.   

Her ability to convey complex concepts succinctly within three minutes is impressive and gained her the ‘People’s Choice’ award at the Faculty of Engineering level competition, and to a very engaging presentation in the Asia-Pacific competition. 

Further, congratulations goes to runner-up Jacqueline Roots for her presentation ‘One ultrasound to unlock independence.’   

Overall it is fantastic to see the development of skills in the centre’s PhD students. This is an incredible acknowledgment for Natalia, the centre and her superiors who oversaw the project Prof. Peter Pivonka, Prof Vittorio Sansalone, A/Prof Laura Gregory, Dr Maria Antico, and Dr Dermot O’Rourke. 

Well done Natalia! 

 Updates in the World of Medical Imaging with the rollout of Mimics Innovation Suite (v26). 

On the 26th of September, Mr. Gagan Deep from industry partner Materialise presented an update of the Mimics Innovation Suite (MIS 26) for the Centre and the QUT Mimics network. Mimics is an advanced tool for 3D medical imaging with systems emphasis on anatomical geometry, giving users the ability to scale projects for orthopaedic, cranio-maxillofacial, and cardiovascular, with it being used in over 20,000 scientific and medical publications. 

The updates of the Software include:  

• Increased level of precision described as that to Akeen to a surgeon’s scalpel. This is easier and more accurate when working with medical imaging data.  
• Fast generation of Surgical Guides including, drilling holes, flanges, cut slots, and guide bridges and the ability to connect files to hospitals PACS. This will make surgical planning faster and more accurate with health professionals being able to dedicate more time to patients and other preparations.  
• The toolbox in MIS 26 allows you to import medical image data (DICOM) and automatically create an accurate segment anatomy 3D model. These models are your starting point for advanced 3D analysis, personalized device design, Finite element meshing, and 3D printing. The easy transfer of data across platforms gives flexibility to the analysis that can be performed and insights that can be attained for research.   
• Display and navigation have improved more user-friendly and intuitive experience. Less time spent navigating and function view projects in augmented reality gives a conception of the model so users can more easily spot errors in their design and visual estimation. 

These resources that are most relevant to the centre have the facilitation of anonymization, segmentation, and computational modelling of bones and muscles giving expertise centre members the skills needed to excel in the robotic healthcare industry and meet key goals of training technology systems to assist in accurate personalised patient care.  

As part of our partnership, the centre is delighted to continue to collaborate with Materialise to offer further Mimics 26 training to their university partners in 2024 as a key resource for our development of surgical planning software and approaches to enhance personalised patient care. 

QUT’s ITTCs Join Forces to Enhance Transdisciplinary Training – Connect and Share: Transdisciplinary insights for enhancing research 
 

On Monday, September 11th, three of QUT’s Industrial Transformation Training Centres came together in true transdisciplinary fashion to deliver a collaborative initiative: ‘Connect and Share: Transdisciplinary insights for enhancing research.  

This event, presented by the dynamic collaboration of the research centres at QUT – ARC BITA, Australian Cobotics Centre, Australian Cobotics Centre and the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics provided a platform for PhD students to share insight across-disciplinary research for furthering all fields of study.   

ARC BITA is aimed at building transformative capability in people, data, and solutions to support Australian organisations to achieve higher returns on technology investment with a focus on behavioural economics, social marketing, and social psychology. Australian Cobotics Centre’s aim is to design and research Collaborative Robotics to Advanced Manufacturing for products including medical devices and steel making and disciplines including Engineering, Business, and Health.   

The speakers gave insights into different approaches that they have found useful in their careers. Professor Glenda Caldwell, from the Australian Cobotics Centre, showed us how embracing one’s unique perspective can turn problems into opportunities for overcoming challenges. Dr Stephen Whyte, Chief Investigator at ARC BITA, delved into the art of asking the right (or wrong) questions in a transdisciplinary environment and unravelled the mysteries of cognitive behavioural bias. Dr Tom Williamson, Robotics Manager at Stryker R&D Lab and Industry Partner to all three centres, shared his insights on the vital collaboration required to transition from engineering projects to impactful solutions in healthcare.  

For us at the ARC ITTC for Joint Biomechanics where we collaborate with orthopaedic surgeons and clinicians, we echo Dr Tom Williamson’s message that to go beyond assessing the technical feasibility of engineering solutions a transdisciplinary approach must be taken for real-world implementation. Most importantly, all stakeholders should be consulted in the initial stages of any project to ensure solutions meet technical, system, and end-user constraints.  

Embracing transdisciplinary approaches is paramount to our mission of transforming the orthopaedic industry. By bridging the expertise of Biomechanical engineers and skilled surgeons we unlock a world of innovation and solutions that transcend traditional boundaries in the fields of pre-operative planning and post-operative patient care.   

Members of the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics and QUASR had the privilege of attending the 15th International Congress on Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (ICSES) in Rome, held from September 5th to 8th, 2023. 

The ICSES Conference is one of the centre’s key events to share and promote the innovative and impactful biomechanical and biomedical engineering research at the centre that is transforming the orthopaedic industry, and to get direct input from medical industry giants and clinical end-users. Our clinical team and surgical fellows exhibited their exceptional dedication and expertise through a series of presentations and posters, underscoring the profound impact of the centre’s work on the future of orthopedic surgery and patient care.  

Notably, centre affiliate researcher and surgical fellow Dr Jomaa Mohammad presented “Short-term Revision Rates of Different Types of Shoulder Replacements in Patients under 55 Years with Primary Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis: Analysis of the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.” This comprehensive investigation explored a comparison of Range of Motion between 2-year Clinical Outcomes and Predictions of Preoperative Planning Software for Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty. Additionally, the findings of clinical outcomes for arthroscopic Brachial Plexus neurolysis in cases of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome were also presented. 

Clinical Chief Investigator, Adjunct Professor Dr Ashish Gupta, delivered an informative presentation on the developments in Akunah management and planning software ‘Reflect Complex.’ This software was developed in collaboration with remarkable alumni from the centre , and it was discussed during his presentation on “Shoulder Registry: Data-Driven Care with AI.” We are honoured to be part of the translational success of our research, extending its impact on the orthopedic industry.  
 

In addition to these presentations, our team displayed a series of posters, each contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge in the field: 
 

Notable Posters: 

• ‘Comparison of Shoulder Range of Motion between those estimated using a mobile phone (2D) and motion capture (3D)’  
• “Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty in Acute Proximal Humeral Fractures – The DFER Approach.” 
• “The Onlay Grammont – Metaphysical Fixation with Undersized Stems Reduces Humeral Stress Shielding in Reverse Shoulder Replacement.” 
• “The New Muscle Coordination Following a Latarjet Procedure Increases Joint Stability: A Theoretical Study.” 
• “All-Arthroscopic Muscle Advancement Procedure for Massive Retracted Rotator Cuff Tears – Clinical and Radiological Outcomes.” 
• “Three-Dimensional Morphometric Analysis of Glenoid and Coracoid Process in an Australian Population.” 
• “Quantifying the Difference in Glenoid Component Position Between Total Shoulder Arthroplasty and Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.” 
• “Deep Transfer Learning Approach for Shoulder Abnormalities Detection Using X-Ray Images.” 

We take immense pride in our clinical team and surgical fellows for their unwavering dedication and innovation, as their contributions continue to pave the way for a brighter future in orthopedics. Congratulations to the team members representing the centre, including Adj. Prof. Dr Ashish Gupta, Dr Kenneth Cutbush, Dr Mohammad Jomaa, Sarah Dr Whitehouse, Dr Freek Hollman, Dr Roberto Pareyon, Dr Kristine Italia, Dr Laith Alzubaidi, Dr Maxence Lavaill, Dr Marco Branni, Dr Asma Salhi, Luke Gililland, Marine Launay, Dr Jashint Maharaj, Angus Lane, Dr Helen Ingoe, Prof Peter Pivonka, Prof Graham Kerr, A/Prof Saulo Martelli, Xiaolong Fan, Prof Yuantong Gu, and Dr Wolbert van den Hoorn. 

Participation in world-class clinical conferences such as the International Congress on Shoulder and Elbow Surgery is a key collaborative and networking opportunity for our academic experts to meet leading clinicians and industry partners in their field, such as the opportunity for Dr Wolly can den Hoorn to present his Range of Motion and MyMobility app progress with centre industry partner, Zimmer Biomet. Clinical conferences provide an opportunity to share high-quality work and facilitate engagement with the global scientific community. These interactions, discussions, and presentations encourage collaboration that leads to further development within the field, benefiting the medical system and patients who require joint and muscle procedures.   

Together we hope to enhance the strength of orthopaedic and MedTech research and development, bringing our insights back to Australasia and to forge ahead with new and exciting translational project ideas. 

The Annual IAB industry advisory board meet to drive innovation at the centre

On the 24th of August, a milestone was achieved as we gathered in person for the inaugural Industry Advisory Board (IAB) meeting, marking a significant stride forward for the collaboration between the Centre and our esteemed Industry Advisory Board Members. 
 
The Industry Advisory Board, a distinguished group of independent experts, was established to provide invaluable insights, recommendations, and direction to the Centre’s Executive Committee. This is important because there is a commutation between the centre and industry to ensure that centre activities reach the goals set by reviewing research priorities, partnerships, skill and education development, and strategic growth for the centre.  

Comprising accomplished individuals from the realms of orthopaedics, biomedical, engineering medical technologies, the board’s membership is a testament to their unparalleled expertise and ability to guide the Centre’s  
 

The discussion spanned a range of critical topics, including Training and employability of Centre Members, Centre Culture and cohesiveness, Diversity of Stakeholder Engagement and interactions Performance Measures, and Future Outlook.  
 
The Board’s deliberations generated recommendations that hold the potential to fuel our Centre’s evolution with a focus on the last 2 years of the centre, and how to increase visibility, clinical impact and industry collaboration going forward. 
 
It is with great honour that we acknowledge our exceptional Industry Advisory Board Members, including Prof. David Sonnabend, Dr. Dimity Dornan AO, and Mr. Peter Cooke, who are integral to steering our Centre towards excellence. Their collective wisdom, combined with Prof. Karen Reynolds’ visionary leadership, sets the stage for our Centre’s promising future. We also thank Mr Michael McArdle, the Queensland University of Technology Executive Director for welcoming the Committee and highlighting our commitment to industry engagement and partnerships for innovative, real-world outcomes. 
 
Following the meeting, Prof. Karen Reynolds shared her insights as Director of the Medical Device Partnering Program based at Flinders University and highlighted many success stories. The MDPP supports the development of novel medical devices and assistive technologies and accepts proposals at any stage of development if there is technical and commercial merit, offering project development support and connectivity to key stakeholders across all aspects of the commercialisation process. 
 
We thank our Industry Advisory Board Members for their unwavering commitment to advancing medical technologies, fostering innovation, and shaping the future of healthcare and the orthopaedic industry in collaboration with the centre. 
 

 Under the microlense of Biomechanics  

16/8/2023  

In Melbourne this week members of the Centre had the pleasure of visiting the Australian Synchrotron. The construction is beneficial to many research fields its ability to devolve high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) structures at high spatial resolution 100 to 5000 nanometres. This is incredibly relevant to biomechanics with the detail being able to replicate imaging of bone tissue using the new Micro MCT beam-line. 

This is achieved through an innovative software that uses monochromatic, pink, and white X-ray beams that have a larger range data collection method including a comparison of samples that change as a function of temperature, pressure, and strain, these are important indications with situ investigation of bone response under load conditions and tensile testing.  

This and its higher accuracy for quantitative processing can be utilised across many of the centre’s programs, with data and sample image quality often a constraint of research when training programs, and mapping biomechanics markers. This can improve other overall research output’s accuracy of models and extend research into directions previously impossible.  

Thanks to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) for advocating for the new Micro MCT beam-line under Project Bright. 

This is an incredible advancement for Australia and the centres’ research, with thanks to Prof Peter Pivonka forging ahead with this opportunity for the centre in association with Assoc. Prof Andrew Kingston from The Australian National University (ANU), Dr Levi Beeching (ANU), Dr Rita Hardiman from the University of Melbourne, and centre affiliate PhD student Mr Alexander Lee-Medland. 

Centre Programs Collaborate for Translational Research Success 

Last year Dr Bart Bolsterlee and Dr Dermot O’Rourke were awarded funding for the seed grant project to advance the field of Biomechanics. The opportunity was provided to develop confidence and proof-of-concept of novel biomechanical approaches to transform capabilities of Australia in the medtech/orthopaedic industry.  

Dr Dermot O’Rourke was awarded a grant to investigate his project ‘Toward Precision Tracking of The Shoulder Joint Using Ultrasound Tomography,’ with his team of Dr Max Lavaill, Ahmed Sewify, Prof Davide Fontanarosa, Prof Glen Lichtwark, A/Prof Saulo Martelli. 

This project aims to establish a protocol for the measurement of humerus and scapular position with a US tomography and determine the accuracy of the Ultrasound based system bone positions in motion capture systems when the body is in a static position. If this can be confirmed by the research of the team it provides a better option for gathering data than current best practices of kinematics valuable for assessment, which is expensive, exposes participants to ionising radiation and has high skin mounted marker errors. With US tomography being safe and non-invasive, visualises underlying bone. The long-term clinical impact allows for a reliable reproduction of captured Bone motion for studying Joint stability, joint reconstruction methods, and implant testing during movements of daily activities. This can provide more personalised patient care through less invasive techniques.  

The findings to date are promising with accurate bone position using VICON tracking and future research into Investigating ultrasound reconstruction error, positions of elevation and replicability of results across trials.  

This has been a collaborative effort with surgical fellow Dr Helen Ingoe helping to run an experimental protocol which combines 3D ultrasound imaging, optical motion capture and cadaveric specimens. It’s been fantastic to have access to such equipment and expertise without which this research wouldn’t have been possible. It’s vital to the centre to have collaboration from clinical partners at the conception of a research project to ensure a long-term view of patient application as well as clinical training.  

Dr Bart Bolsterlee. and Dr Eleonore Bolle are project leaders on research into ‘Biomechanical characteristics of the human supraspinatus tendon in vivo under physiological loading.’ this has progressed well with updates given at the 2023 symposium. Project co-investigators include Dr Freek Hollman, Miss Yilan (Olivia) Zhang Miss Asawari P., and Miss Sepideh Shemshad Industry mentors: Prof. Lynne Bilston (University of New South Wales) and Adj. Prof. Ken Cutbush Doctor at Dr Kenneth Cutbush Shoulder Clinic.  

The project aims to understand the mechanical load the tendon experiences under normal loading conditions by developing a computational framework that can estimate stresses and strains in the human supraspinatus tendon (SPT) under physiological loading conditions in vivo. This information is currently a gap within the literature, due to the difficulty in measuring tendon loading in living humans, however, once an anatomically/physiological model is attained the predictive outcomes of recovery from shoulder joint surgery will help improve the ~21% (after two years) Re-tear rates of Rotator cuff tendons, improving quality of life.  

The stage approach is first to determine the linear and viscoelastic mechanical properties of human SPT ex vivo. Then measure SPT strain and muscle activation under physiological loading conditions in humans in vivo. Finally, develop and validate a finite element model of the SPT muscle-tendon complex. 

There are positive initial results towards the development of a computational framework that integrates ex vivo and in vivo data to simulate muscle-tendon mechanics. This will further the research on tendons aligning with the centre’s goals of high-quality collaborative research outputs and developing transformational technologies to improve patient care.  

On behalf of Dr Bart Bolsterlee. Dr Eleonore Bolle and Dr Dermot O’Rourke, the seed projects initial results look promising with fantastic progress and published findings still to come.  

QLD Chapter of the BIOTech Futures Competition: Masked for Success 

Following the success of the inaugural QLD BIOTech Futures Challenge in 2022, the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics hosted the QLD BIOTech Futures Challenge again in 2023 as one of its premier highschool engagement events for the year on the 23rd of July, 2023.
    
The BIOTech Futures Competition is an innovation and mentorship program aiming to empower young talents by connecting high school students with world-class academics to think about scientific solutions to some significant challenges in the fields of health, medicine, sustainability, humanitarian aid and environment. Mentors were tasked with supporting a group of high school students to research current problems and produce a solution such as a product/device, treatment, technique or method.  
   
12 teams from 7 schools (Stretton State College, Mansfield State High School, Earnshaw State College, Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology (QASMT), Mabel Park State High School, Rochedale State High School, Stuartholme School) attended the program with 40 students, 60% of which were girls which was an outstanding result to support the development of young women in STEM. Each team was paired with 14 mentors working over several weeks to define a research question/gap, brainstorm potential solutions, research and finally present a report, prototype and pitch that explained their innovative solution. 

Congratulations to the winning team from the Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology (QASMT) on their idea of “An All-In-One disposable mask that administers antiviral RNA medicine nano-nebulization.”   
   
The centre would also like to thank the panel of judges for your time; Dr Robyn Stokes, Peter Pivonka, and Monica Russell. Further thanks to Mr Yohaann Ghosh past BIOTech Futures chair for his event welcome, Mr Luke Hipwood as our newest QLD executive committee member, and Prof Hala Zreiqat as the founder. We also extend our thanks to mentors, Dietmar W. Hutmacher, A/Prof Saulo Martelli, Dermot O’Rourke, Dr Maxence Lavaill,  Mr Luke Hipwood, Dr Adi Idris, Dr Jessica Benitez, Miss Hannah Neuendorf, A/Prof Devakar Epari and A/Prof Zhanying Zhang. 

On the 17th of July 2023, the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics welcomed shadow minister the Hon Paul Fletcher MP to showcase QUT’s robotics capabilities as one of the leading research centres in the world, and the leading institution at the QUT Centre for Robotics in Australia in this field.  

The Hon Paul Fletcher was “impressed with what [he] saw on [his] visit to [the] Queensland University of Technology,” and he shared his admiration of the research projects giving his seal of approval for the calibre of research coming out of QUT with “great work” in materials science, batteries, robotics, and AI including medical robotics and medical image analysis AI being undertaken at the centre. As emphasized by the QUT team, the visit presented a valuable opportunity to highlight the collaborative research efforts, whilst the minister emphasised their significance of policy development in these areas to ensure Australia remains competitive in the field. 

A noteworthy moment during the visit was the participation of centre PhD student Mr Morgan Windsor from the ARC Training Centre for Joint Biomechanics and QUT Centre for Robotics. Morgan’s presentation, titled ‘Pose Quality Prediction for Vision Guided Robotic Shoulder Arthroplasty,’ garnered attention as an example of QUT’s commitment to innovation in orthopedics. The presentation showcased Morgan’s research while underlining the importance of QUT’s role in promoting cutting-edge translational biomechanics research. 

Overall, the visit was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the current progress under program 2 at the centre (robotic assisted testing and surgery).