Mechanical stimulation of tissue regeneration
Sara Checa is a new professor at the TU Hamburg
Wouldn't it be great if it would be possible to use mechanical principles to induce regeneration of tissues within the body? This is what Professor Sara Checa is researching. The scientist and her team are investigating how mechanical signals influence biological processes, in particular those related to the regeneration of tissues such as bones. “We use computer models to understand and utilise the underlying principles of regeneration. We want to use this knowledge to optimise medical devices,” says the biomechanical engineer. One example of this is the optimisation of fixation devices for the treatment of complex bone fractures or the design of hip and knee prostheses to prevent the loss of surrounding bone.
Bioengineering for better implants
For Sara Checa, the interdisciplinary approach was also the reason why she chose this field of research at the interface between mechanics and medicine: ‘I am fascinated by the potential of applying engineering principles to solve medical problems.’ Through her work, she hopes to develop technical tools that can help to design better implants and also help clinicians in their decision-making. Technische Universität Hamburg offers Checa the right environment to develop good technical solutions for clinical problems. Sara Checa did not initially aspire to a career in science. “At the beginning of my career, I didn't see myself as an academic, but rather working in industry. However, as my career progressed, I decided to take on tasks that I was convinced I would enjoy, and that's how I ended up becoming a professor,” she explains.
From the Charité to the TU Hamburg
Sara Checa studied Industrial Engineering at the University of Malaga, Spain, and received her doctorate from the University of Southampton, UK, with the topic: "Mechanical requirements of early intervention devices for the knee’. Her career then took her to Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and from there to the Julius Wolff Institute at the Charité in Berlin. Sara Checa remained at Charité for around 15 years, where she was appointed professor in 2017. In the summer of 2024, she moved to TU Hamburg, as Director of the Institute of Biomechanics. Born in Spain, she particularly likes the TU Hamburg's location close to nature and its connection to the big city.
Weitere Informationen:
https://www.tuhh.de/bim/institute-of-biomechanics
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