Our Focus
Professor Virginia (Ginger) Ferguson is a tenured Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado. She is an expert in soft-hard tissue (e.g., osteochondral) interface tissue mechanics; nano- and micro-indentation of bone, soft tissues, and hydrogels for tissue regeneration; and in how aging, disuse, and metabolic disease detrimentally alter quality of the materials that make up bone and other musculoskeletal tissues. Her group studies problems deeply rooted in the mechanical behavior of materials with applications that extend from understanding causes of functional tissue failure, developing new solutions for tissue regeneration, novel biomaterials, and studying emerging and complex materials (e.g., stereolithography, or SLA, 3D printed polymers for tissue regeneration).
Highlights
Development of Novel Materials Testing Tools and Methods
Our group has a long-standing focus on developing new methods and protocols to for microscopy (i.e., visualizing) and nano- and micro-mechanical testing of hydrated, heterogeneous, porous, and sometimes very soft materials. We also create new ways to combine measures of material properties, structure, composition and chemistry using combined measurement techniques (check out our "Instruments" page) and advanced statistical analysis techniques.
Soft-Hard Tissue Interfaces
A major challenge exists in evaluation of interfaces between soft and hard tissues -- such as between bone and cartilage. Our group specializes in preparation of these interfaces for continuous microscopy and mechanical mapping. We have also recently developed methods for evaluating similar hard-soft interfaces in bilayer hydrogels, and we are studying how stress and strain gradients in live tissue interfaces influence mechanobiology of cells that live in these complex regions.
Mice in Space!
Our group has led two flight experiments on the Space Shuttle (missions STS-118 and STS-135) to evaluate bone, muscles, and other tissues. We recently published results on bone effects from mice on STS-108 on the Science Direct website. Also check out our recent work where our collabor, Karen Jonscher, demonstrated liver damage in young mice flown in microgravity for ~13 days.
Biomimetic Tissue Regeneration
New research focus - Our group is working to use 3D printing technologies to develop biomimetic materials for tissue engineering of bone and cartilage. We have some pretty exciting early results and are looking forward to getting them ready to disseminate - hopefully in 2016!
STEM Outreach & Research
Prof. Ferguson, along with Dr. Beverly Louie, created the You're Own Undergraduate Research Experience @ CU program - a program to expose early undergraduate students (and especially women and underrepresented minority students) to research. Check out the details of the YOU'RE@CU Research Program and apply this coming fall if you are interested.