Professor Damien Lacroix

Professor of Mechanobiology

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Sir Frederick Mappin Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD

Telephone: +44(0)114 2220156

Profile

Damien Lacroix is Professor of Mechanobiology in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He has a first degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Applied Science (INSA Lyon, France) and a PhD in Biomechanics from Trinity College Dublin.

After a post-doc in 2001 in Toulouse (France) for Smith and Nephew at the Purpan Hospital, he was awarded a Marie-Curie TMR EU fellowship in 2002 and a Ramon y Cajal senior fellowship in 2004 at the Technical University of Catalonia (Spain). In 2008 he was appointed Group Leader of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology at the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (Spain). Damien joined the Department in 2012 when he took a Chair in Biomedical Engineering within the INSIGNEO research institute.

Other professional activities and achievements

Past-President of the European Society of Biomechanics
Council Member of the European Alliance for Medical and Biological Engineering and Science (EAMBES)
Editorial Board member of Biomaterials, Journal of Biomechanics and Clinical Biomechanics
2010 Jean Leray Award from the European Society of Biomaterials
2006 City Award of Barcelona in Technology Research for the development of a new injectable porous material based on calcium phosphate
Recipient of European Research Council Starting Grant in 2011

Research Areas

Professor Lacroix's research covers bone mechanobiology (bone tissue engineering, bone distraction, fracture healing) and spine biomechanics (mechanobiology of disc degeneration, disc angiogenesis, disc implant analysis).

The focus of his research group is the study of the effect of mechanical stimuli on biological response. The group's objective is to make scientific advancements in simulations of in vitro and in vivo biomechanics and mechanobiology and in experimental in vitro mechanobiology. The current focus of the group is mainly on the development of simulations in spine biomechanics, tissue engineering and cell mechanics. These numerical simulations based on the finite element method are complemented with in vitro tests using bioreactors and microfluid chambers.

Research Projects

Multiscale modelling of the musculoskeletal system
Development of a predictive computational platform for disc degenration
Simulation of a biological / biomaterials interactions in tissue engineering
Simulation of bone fracture healing
Modelling of cell mechanics
Study of cell adhesion
Microfluidic study of fluid shear stresses
Implant prothesis design

Teaching

Prof. Lacroix supervises final year undergraduate and MSc projects.

Current Research Grants

European Research Council Starting Grant, MECHANOBIO - 'Finite element simulations of mechanobiology in tissue engineering', 10/2011-09/2016. €1.49m
European Commission, FP7 ICT 269909, MySpine - 'Functional prognosis simulation of patient-specific spinal treatment for clinical use', 03/2011-02/2014. €0.68m.
ESPRC Frontier Engineering Award (EP/K03877X/1), M J Hounslow, D Lacroix, M Viceconti, S A Billings, V Kadirkamanathan, A pavic, E McCloskey, T Skerry, 'Modelling Complex and Partially Identified Engineering Problems - Application to the Individualised Multi-scale Simulation of the Musculoskeletal System', 01.09.2013 to 31.08.2018 £4.86m

Journal articles

Barreto S, Clausen CH, Perrault CM, Fletcher DA & Lacroix D (2013) A multi-structural single cell model of force-induced interactions of cytoskeletal components.. Biomaterials, 34(26), 6119-6126.
Barreto S, Perrault CM, Lacroix D, Clausen CH & Fletcher DA (2013) A multi-structural single cell model of force-induced interactions of cytoskeletal components. Biomaterials, 34(26), 6119-6126.
Ruiz C, Noailly J & Lacroix D (2013) Material property discontinuities in intervertebral disc porohyperelastic finite element models generate numerical instabilities due to volumetric strain variations.. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater, 26, 1-10.
Olivares AL, Perrault CM & Lacroix D (2012) Computational and experimental approach to understand the dynamic cell seeding. JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, 6, 340-340.
Malandrino A, Noailly J, Lacroix D, Fritsch A, Lahayne O, Hellmich C, Kropik K & Redl H (2012) Anisotropic tissue elasticity in human lumbar vertebra, by means of a coupled ultrasound-micromechanics approach. Materials Letters, 78, 154-158.
Malandrino A, Noailly J & Lacroix D (2012) Regional annulus fibre orientations used as a tool for the calibration of lumbar intervertebral disc finite element models.. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin.
Noailly J, Ambrosio L, Elizabeth Tanner K, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2012) In silico evaluation of a new composite disc substitute with a L3-L5 lumbar spine finite element model.. Eur Spine J, 21 Suppl 5, S675-S687.
Olivares AL & Lacroix D (2012) Simulation of cell seeding within a three-dimensional porous scaffold: a fluid-particle analysis.. Tissue Eng Part C Methods, 18(8), 624-631.
Malandrino A, Noailly J & Lacroix D (2012) Simulation of the effect of mechanics on cell viability during degeneration of the intervertebral disc. JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, 6, 389-389.
Byrne DP, Lacroix D & Prendergast PJ (2011) Simulation of Fracture Healing in the Tibia: Mechanoregulation of Cell Activity Using a Lattice Modeling Approach. JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, 29(10), 1496-1503.
Bohner M, Loosli Y, Baroud G & Lacroix D (2011) Commentary: Deciphering the link between architecture and biological response of a bone graft substitute. ACTA BIOMATERIALIA, 7(2), 478-484.
Galbusera F, Schmidt H, Noailly J, Malandrino A, Lacroix D, Wilke H-J & Shirazi-Adl A (2011) Comparison of four methods to simulate swelling in poroelastic finite element models of intervertebral discs. JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS, 4(7), 1234-1241.
Sandino C & Lacroix D (2011) A dynamical study of the mechanical stimuli and tissue differentiation within a CaP scaffold based on micro-CT finite element models.. Biomech Model Mechanobiol, 10(4), 565-576.
Noailly J, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2011) On the collagen criss-cross angles in the annuli fibrosi of lumbar spine finite element models.. Biomech Model Mechanobiol, 10(2), 203-219.
Melchels FPW, Feijen J, Grijpma DW, Tonnarelli B, Martin I, Wendt DJ, Olivares AL & Lacroix D (2011) The influence of the scaffold design on the distribution of adhering cells after perfusion cell seeding. Biomaterials, 32(11), 2878-2884.
Lacroix D & Ramírez Patiño JF (2011) Finite element analysis of donning procedure of a prosthetic transfemoral socket. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 39(12), 2972-2983.
Malandrino A, Noailly J & Lacroix D (2011) The Effect of Sustained Compression on Oxygen Metabolic Transport in the Intervertebral Disc Decreases with Degenerative Changes. PLoS Computational Biology, 7(8).
Noailly J, Planell JA, Lacroix D, Ambrosio L & Elizabeth Tanner K (2011) In silico evaluation of a new composite disc substitute with a L3-L5 lumbar spine finite element model. European Spine Journal, 1-13.
Milan J-L, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2010) Simulation of bone tissue formation within a porous scaffold under dynamic compression. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, 9(5), 583-596.
Koch MA, Vrij EJ, Engel E, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2010) Perfusion cell seeding on large porous PLA/calcium phosphate composite scaffolds in a perfusion bioreactor system under varying perfusion parameters. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part A, 95(4), 1011-1018.
Sandino C, Checa S, Prendergast PJ & Lacroix D (2010) Simulation of angiogenesis and cell differentiation in a CaP scaffold subjected to compressive strains using a lattice modeling approach. Biomaterials, 31(8), 2446-2452.
Planell JA, Aparicio C, Engel E, Gil J, Ginebra MP, Navarro M, Altankov G & Lacroix D (2010) Materials surface effects on biological interactions. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology, 233-252.
Santoro R, Martin I, Wendt D, Olivares AL, Lacroix D, Brans G, Wirz D & Longinotti C (2010) Bioreactor based engineering of large-scale human cartilage grafts for joint resurfacing. Biomaterials, 31(34), 8946-8952.
Malandrino A, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2009) Statistical factorial analysis on the poroelastic material properties sensitivity of the lumbar intervertebral disc under compression, flexion and axial rotation.. J Biomech, 42(16), 2780-2788.
Lacroix D, Planell JA & Prendergast PJ (2009) Computer-aided design and finite-element modelling of biomaterial scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci, 367(1895), 1993-2009.
Olivares AL, Planell JA, Lacroix D & Marsal E (2009) Finite element study of scaffold architecture design and culture conditions for tissue engineering. Biomaterials, 30(30), 6142-6149.
Milan JL, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2009) Computational modelling of the mechanical environment of osteogenesis within a polylactic acid-calcium phosphate glass scaffold. Biomaterials, 30(25), 4219-4226.
Milan JL, Sandino C, Midderhoff S, Marques L, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2009) Mode of failure of a biomaterial composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering using synchrotron micro-tomography and finite element analysis. 12th International Conference on Fracture 2009, ICF-12, 8, 6179-6186.
Koch MA, Engel E, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2008) Material characterization and dynamic cell seeding on PLA/glass composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. 8th World Biomaterials Congress 2008, 3, 1248-1248.
Charles-Harris M, Koch MA, Lacroix D, Engel E, Planell JA & Navarro M (2008) A PLA/calcium phosphate degradable composite material for bone tissue engineering: An in vitro study. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19(4), 1503-1513.
Sandino C, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2008) A finite element study of mechanical stimuli in scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Journal of Biomechanics, 41(5), 1005-1014.
Engel E, Michiardi A, Navarro M, Lacroix D & Planell JA (2008) Nanotechnology in regenerative medicine: the materials side. Trends in Biotechnology, 26(1), 39-47.
Prendergast PJ, Checa S, Byrne DP, Planell J & Lacroix D (2008) Mechanobiological models in tissue engineering: Current concepts and new developments. 8th World Biomaterials Congress 2008, 1, 56-56.
Byrne DP, Lacroix D, Planell JA, Kelly DJ & Prendergast PJ (2007) Simulation of tissue differentiation in a scaffold as a function of porosity, Young's modulus and dissolution rate: Application of mechanobiological models in tissue engineering. BIOMATERIALS, 28(36), 5544-5554.
Roca Romalde D, Lacroix D, Planell Estany JA, Caja López VL & Proubasta Renart I (2007) Tratamiento quirúrgico de las pseudoartrosis asépticas de diáfisis humeral. Estudio biomecánico. Revista de Ortopedia y Traumatologia, 51(2), 88-93.
Saló G, Cáceres E, Molina A, Ramírez M, Lladó A, Lacroix D & Planell JA (2007) Comportamiento biomecánico del injerto anterior en la cirugía del raquis lumbar. Estudio comparativo mediante un modelo de elementos finitos. Revista de Ortopedia y Traumatologia, 51(5), 284-295.
Charles-Harris M, del Valle S, Hentges E, Bleuet P, Lacroix D & Planell JA (2007) Mechanical and structural characterisation of completely degradable polylactic acid/calcium phosphate glass scaffolds.. Biomaterials, 28(30), 4429-4438.
Noailly J, Wilke HJ, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2007) How does the geometry affect the internal biomechanics of a lumbar spine bi-segment finite element model? Consequences on the validation process.. J Biomech, 40(11), 2414-2425.
Prendergast PJ, Byrne DP, Kelly DJ & Lacroix D (2007) Tissue differentiation steps towards bone formation. European Cells and Materials, 14(SUPPL.1), 26-26.
Lacroix D, Noailly J, Salo G, Caceres E & Planell JA (2006) The effect of bone graft geometry on spinal fusion vertebral stresses.. J Appl Biomater Biomech, 4(3), 135-142.
Lacroix D, Chateau A, Ginebra MP & Planell JA (2006) Micro-finite element models of bone tissue-engineering scaffolds.. Biomaterials, 27(30), 5326-5334.
Charles-Harris M, Lacroix D, Proubasta I & Planell JA (2005) Intramedullary nails vs osteosynthesis plates for femoral fracture stabilization: A finite element analysis.. J Appl Biomater Biomech, 3(3), 157-167.
Noailly J, Lacroix D & Planell JA (2005) Finite element study of a novel intervertebral disc substitute.. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 30(20), 2257-2264.
Idelsohn S, Peña J, Lacroix D, Planell JA, Gil FJ & Arcas A (2004) Continuous mandibular distraction osteogenesis using superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA).. J Mater Sci Mater Med, 15(4), 541-546.

Conferences

Planell JA, Navarro M, Altankov G, Aparicio C, Engel E, Gil J, Ginebra MP & Lacroix D (2010) Materials Surface Effects on Biological Interactions. ADVANCES IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE: ROLE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES, 233-252.
Koch MA, Engel E, Planell JA & Lacroix D (2007) Static and dynamic cell seeding of bone composite scaffolds in a perfusion bioreactor. TISSUE ENGINEERING, 13(7), 1757-1757.
Lacroix D, Villagomez M & Planell JA (2007) Finite element study of regular scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. TISSUE ENGINEERING, 13(7), 1698-1698.