Modeling cellular and subcellular processes to prevent traumatic brain injury

We want to understand how trauma against the human head causes brain damage and how we can better protect ourselves against these.

Consequences of brain injuries are not limited to the victim alone but have impact on the society as a whole through the large costs involved, not to mention the tragedies and the suffering.

It should be noted that very little is understood about the true mechanisms associated with head injury, but many theories exist. The biomechanics of the human head can be seen as a motion of the brain inside an externally loaded skull.

One of the advantages with the finite element method is the possibility to model the anatomy with great detail, thus it is possible to study the kinematics of the head as well as the stresses and strains in the Central Nervous System tissues.

Molecular Dynamics simulations will be used to investigate how the protein or membrane is affected by mechanical stress.

With a proper understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms following trauma to the human brain, better protective systems such as helmets and candidates for therapeutic drugs against brain injuries can be developed.

It is not inconceivable that this project could eventually produce results that can be applied to other common diseases of the brain such as stroke and dementia.