Tissue engineering expert earns Discovery Grant

Posted April 15, 2010

By Jennifer Sowa

Faculty of Medicine member Neil Duncan, PhD, has been awarded a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for his work engineering treatment options for musculoskeletal disorders.  The $120,000 award, to be spread out over three years, is given to Canadian researchers who have the potential to become international leaders in their fields. The grant is intended to accelerate research programs by providing funds for additional staff or specialized equipment.

Duncan, also a member of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health and Canada Research Chair in Orthopaedic Bioengineering, investigates the mechanobiology of musculoskeletal tissues–how mechanical loads at the tissue level are transferred to the cell level and create a biological response. He will use his Discovery Grant to develop tissue engineering treatment options for musculoskeletal disorders such as degenerative disc disease and osteoporotic fractures.

Neil Duncan, PhD, in his lab at the Faculty of Medicine: photo by Robin Kuniski