ORTHOPAEDIC BIOENGINEERING LABORATORY

Shangping Wang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

shangpw@clemson.edu

I earned my Ph.D. in Regenerative Sciences at Hannover Medical School in 2015 and then jointed Dr. Gloria Elliott’s lab at University of North Carolina at Charlotte as a postdoctoral fellow. I started as a research faculty at Clemson in November of 2020. My research interests mainly focus on biopreservation and biobanking with a laboratory-based research program on cryopreservation of musculoskeletal tissues. My current MTF Biologics funding supports research relevant to the development of low toxic cryoprotective solutions (dimethyl sulfoxide-free vitrification solutions) for ice-free cryopreservation of viable bone allografts. In addition, I have teamed up with Dr. Yongren Wu, Dr. Hai Yao, and Dr. Kelvin Brockbank to provide expertise on mass transport and thermal transport studies on another MTF Biologics funded project entitled integrating ice-free vitrification and nanowarming for banking of meniscus allograft. We have also collaborated on a NIH SBIR funded project regarding cryopreservation of articular cartilage tissues and the project has been recently transitioned to animal transplantation phase.

Lizzie Walker
Ph.D. Student

mewlkr@g.clemson.edu

I am from Tuscaloosa, AL and graduated from Mississippi State University in 2020 with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Bioengineering and also serve as the lab manager for our lab. My current research involves studying osteoarthritis in the trapeziometacarpal joint. I am currently working on building a kinematic model of the joint through collection and manipulation of motion tracking data, CT imaging, and 3D morphometry of muscles and ligaments. Other objectives of my project include studying the mechanical properties of various ligaments in the joint and comparing those between healthy and osteoarthritic joints as well as looking into the collagen content in ligaments in both healthy and osteoarthritic joints. The goal of my research is to be able to further understand the pathomechanics of TMC osteoarthritis. On a typical weekend you’ll find me watching football, going to thrift stores, and hanging out with my dog.

Nathan Buchweitz
Ph.D. Student

nbuchwe@clemson.edu

I am a first year PhD student studying intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration in the human cervical spine. The highly translational nature of my project, coupled with the outstanding interdisciplinary collaborations made possible through MUSC, made my decision to join this lab an easy one. My focus here is on modeling both the physiological and material conditions under which IVD tissue deforms and loses its functional integrity. This involves characterization of harvested cadaver tissue with benchside tests for mechanical, electrical, and biochemical properties, as well as running kinematic / dynamic motion studies of the entire cervical spine column. Ultimately, I aim to construct a set of finite element engineering models that may be utilized to readily inform clinicians on patient specific pathways for neck injury and pain.

Daniel Gordon
Ph.D. Student

digordo@g.clemson.edu

Hello, I am Daniel Gordon. I am from Woodstock, GA (just north of Atlanta) and got my Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech. In my spare time I like to play tennis, work out or relax with some video games.

Joshua Kelley
Ph.D. Student

jkelle5@g.clemson.edu

I am from Savannah, Georgia and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Physics from Clemson University. During my time there I realized that I was interested in human anatomy. I took a class and was able to do research on the cardiovascular system and enjoyed it. So, when it came time to apply for graduate school, I decided to go for Bioengineering. I am currently pursuing a M. S. in Bioengineering and hope to go on to get a PhD after I finish my masters.

Avery Madden
Master's Student

aemadde@g.clemson.edu

I am from Greenville, SC, and just graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in Bioengineering with a concentration in biomaterials. I am pursuing my master’s degree through Clemson at MUSC this upcoming year. I am interested in orthopaedic surgery and aim to attend medical school following the completion of my master’s. Outside of school, I enjoy going to the gym, reading, playing soccer, traveling, going to the beach, and spending time with friends.

Karly Ripple
Master's Student

karlyr@g.clemson.edu

I am from Charleston, SC and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Bioengineering with a concentration in materials science from Clemson University. While at Clemson university I discovered a passion for applying engineering concepts to the human body. I worked in Dr. Harcum’s lab on bioreactors perfusion with Chinese hamster ovary cells. I also participated in developing a hydrocephalus shunt malfunction detector which inspired me to pursue my master's degree in bioengineering. I am currently pursuing a M.Eng. in Bioengineering.

Abbigayle Merck
Master's Student

abbigam@g.clemson.edu

Hello! My name is Abbi Merck, and I am a Master's of Engineering student in the Clemson-MUSC bioengineering program! I was born and raised in Piedmont, SC, which is undoubtedly what led me to decide on Clemson as the ideal place to spend my undergraduate years. I pursued a dual degree in Biochemistry and Genetics, while being a member of the Clemson Honors College, and graduated in May of 2022. As much as I enjoyed learning about the intricacies of the molecular world, I am also passionate about helping to advance medical technology to better serve the world as it is today. It was these interests that led me to pursue my Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, which I hope will lead me into a future career in the medical device or pharmaceutical industry. Outside of thinking about all things science, I love to ride horses, read a good book, and run on the many beautiful trails around Charleston!

Luke LaRochelle
Medical Student

larochel@musc.edu

I am from Pawleys Island, SC, and I am a College of Medicine student at MUSC interested in orthopaedic surgery. I am particularly interested in spine surgery and the development of orthopaedic devices and biologic therapies. My work in this lab has been on projects studying degenerative processes in tendons and intervertebral discs. My hope is that this research will eventually lead to the development of new biologics and medical therapies to help patients suffering from various orthopaedic injuries and age-related diseases.

Nicholas Bain
Medical Student

nbain@g.clemson.edu

I am originally from Greenville, South Carolina, and I am a member of the MUSC College of Medicine incoming class of 2025. I eventually hope to practice orthopaedic surgery and take part in the development of new orthopaedic devices. My work in this lab has given me knowledge of novel orthopaedic research techniques and has reinforced my interest in orthopeadic surgery.

Joseph Cutrone
Medical Student

cutronej@musc.edu

I am currently a student in the MUSC College of Medicine Class of 2024. I was born and raised in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and I graduated from Clemson University in May of 2020 with a bachelor of science in Biochemistry. I was diagnosed with Legg-Perthes disease as child which peaked my interest in medicine and specifically orthopaedics. I underwent four hip surgeries as a child and am very familiar with chronic pain. I have had chronic hip pain my whole life and have also developed chronic lower back pain as a byproduct of my disease. Mechanisms of injury leading to chronic lower back pain are of particular interest to me because of my experiences. I hope to contribute to the treatment of chronic pain both through the research that I am conducting under the direction of Dr. Wu as well as through treating patients later on in my career as a physician.

Emily Babb
Medical Student

babbe@musc.edu

I am from Clover, SC, and I graduated from UofSC in 2020 with a degree in Environmental Science and Spanish. I am currently pursuing an MD degree at MUSC, and I am interested in specializing in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Wu's lab has allowed me to further explore this interest, as I am working to develop a cervical surgical drill guide. Outside of class and research, I enjoy being on the board of MUSC's CARES free medical clinic and being the clinic coordinator for MUSC's chapter of Physician's for Human Rights. I also enjoy running, playing card games, and cooking.

Alex Chiaramonti (PGY 4)
chiaramo@musc.edu

My favorite thing about MUSC is that the faculty provide a great learning environment with multiple research opportunities. Rotating through all subspecialties by third year was very beneficial in determining fellowship.

Jacob Wolf (PGY 3)
wolf@musc.edu

My favorite thing about MUSC is the great faculty who take significant interest in the development of their residents. Top to bottom, the residents form a cohesive group that help each other along at work but also spend time with one another outside of the hospital. Not having orthopaedic fellowships at our institution lends itself to higher level of responsibility and earlier development in the OR for residents. Living in Charleston is another perk, with its great restaurants and numerous things to do when you have a little time off.

Claire Sumwalt
cesumwa@g.clemson.edu

I am a junior bioengineering student at Clemson University. I am originally from Rock Hill, SC and am here with Clemson's BEACH program for the summer. My research is focusing on joint congruency of the TMC joint as OA progresses.

Thomas Allen
tsallen@g.clemson.edu

I am from Charleston, SC, and am a rising senior in the Clemson University Honors College. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. After graduation, I plan to enroll in medical school and begin the road to becoming a physician. Within the lab, I am working on 3D model creation and architectural analysis of rat spine models to observe the effect of smoking. I am developing protocols and generating data analytics to push the study's narrative. Outside of the lab, I am an outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking, canoeing, fishing, and spending time at the beach. I am also passionate about traveling and spending time with my friends and family.

Jay Baek
jbaek@g.clemson.edu

I’m from Charleston, SC. I graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in Bioengineering and a minor in Chemistry in 2023, and I start as a medical student at MUSC in 2023. I am currently helping to collect kinematic data and perform dissections for the TMC project. Outside of research, I love going to the gym and playing disc golf video games to relax.