Mechanobiology – the stress of life

Thursday 20th Feb 2020, 12.27pm

We often think of our bodies in terms of cells and genes, but we shouldn’t forget that they’re also complex mechanical structures. From an Achilles tendon – that can carry half the weight of a Mini – to our constantly pulsing blood vessels, they’re feats of meticulous engineering. Scientists at the University of Oxford are showing how research at the interface of biology and mechanical engineering can lead to exciting new therapies, for example in the treatment of osteoporosis and high blood pressure.