Refrigeration system to support multi-scale human biomechanics testing and modeling

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This proposal is a request for a large-scale refrigeration system that will enable multi-scale (from whole body to individual tissues) investigations into fundamental mechanisms of degradation, failure, and longevity in human biomechanical systems and tissues. The system would provide the means to freeze and store up to eight freshly frozen, unembalmed, whole body donations, enabling the study of tissue and body behaviour that is the best possible representation of that seen in living humans. Fresh freezing avoids the negative effects of embalming, including severe limitation of joint motion, decreased energy absorption, and altered response to impact, prolonged loading, and repetitive loads. In the first five years alone, the proposed refrigeration system would enable a specimen provision program that would support primary thesis research for 20 PhD, 20 MSc, and 20 undergraduate students in 9 NSERC Discovery Grant funded and 2 NSERC Canada Research Chair research programs.