Mariana E. Kersh

For more information

• Tissue Biomechanics Lab Homepage

Education

• PhD Materials Science, University of Wisconsin, 2010
• MS Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2008
• BA Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2005
• BA English, University of Texas - Austin, 1999

Biography

Dr. Mariana Kersh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is Director of the Tissue Biomechanics Laboratory. Previously, she was a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Melbourne, under a university-wide McKenzie fellowship in which she was the sole recipient in the College of Engineering. Her research focuses on the use of experimental methods to evaluate macro-level mechanical and structural properties of bone, cartilage, and connective tissues, such as ligaments, in order to include them into finite element simulations of these tissues under physiological loads. She first received a Bachelor of Arts in English at The University of Texas-Austin, then went on to receive a Bachelors and Masters in Mechanical Engineering, and PhD in Materials Science Engineering at The University of Wisconsin – Madison as a National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow.

Academic Positions

• Health Innovation Professor, Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, 2021 - present (33%)
• Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, 2021 - present (67%)
• Part-time Faculty, University of Illinois, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, 2017 - present (0%)
• Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, 2014 - 2020 (100%)
• Postdoctoral McKenzie Fellow, University of Melbourne, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2010-2014

Research Interests

• Mechanical properties of musculoskeletal tissues, joint movement, imaging, structure-function relationships. Bone and joint diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis significantly impact the quality of life of those afflicted, and impose a personal and societal financial burden. Relating the structural and mechanical properties of musculoskeletal tissues to their function can help increase our understanding and therefore the treatment of bone and joint diseases. We explore the structure and organization of biological materials using clinical-level medical images. By doing so, we can link architecture to functional outcomes – such as survivability and strength derived from novel experimental techniques. We also use the finite-element method to answer those questions that are difficult to do so experimentally.

Selected Articles in Journals

• Ellerbrock R, Larsen R, Garret K, Stewart MC, Moshage SG, Kersh ME, Podico G, Lima F, Canisso FI. Flouroquinolone exposure in utero during late pregnancy did not cause structural or functional abnormalities in the articular cartilage of resulting foals. Equine Veterinary Journal, 2020. (in press).
• Cocca CJ, Duffy DJ, Kersh ME, Moore GE. Influence of Interlocking Horizontal Mattress Epitendinous Suture Placement on Tendinous Biomechanical Properties in a Canine Common Calcaneal Laceration Model. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 33(03), 205-211, 2020.
• Kersh ME. Resolving nanoscale strains in whole joints. Nature Biomedical Engineering 4, 257-258, 2020. Invited article.
• Andreasen CM, Bakalova LP, Brüel A-M, Hauge EM, Kill BJ, Delaisse J-M, Kersh ME, Thomsen JS, Andersen TL. The generation of enlarged eroded pores upon existing intracortical canals is a major contributor to endocortical trabecularization. Bone, 130:115127, 2020.
• Moshage SG, McCoy AM, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Temporal and spatial changes in bone accrual, density and strain energy density in growing foals. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 103, 103568, 2020.
• Daly RM, Gianoudis J, Kersh ME, Wang Y, Bailey CA, Ebeling PR, Nowson CA, Hill KD. Sanders KM. Effects of a 12-month supervised, community-based, multi-modal exercise program followed by a 6-month research-to-practice transition on bone mineral density, trabecular microarchitecture and physical function in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 35(3), 419-429, 2020.
• Ang I, Fox M, Polk JD, Kersh ME. An algorithm for automated separation of trabecular bone from variably thick cortices in high-resolution computed tomography data. IEEE - Transactions of Biomedical Engineering, vol. 67, no. 3, pp. 924-930, 2020.
• Duffy D, Cocca C, Kersh ME, Kim W, Moore GE. Effect of bite distance of an epitendinous suture from the repair site on the tensile strength of canine tendon constructs. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 80(11), 1034-1042, 2019.
• Song H, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Rat bone properties and their relationship to gait during growth. Journal of Experimental Biology, 222 (18), jeb203554, 2019.
• Cocca C, Duffy D, Kersh ME, Kim W, Groenewold A, Moore GE. Biomechanical comparison of three epitendinous suture patterns as adjuncts to a core locking loop suture for repair of canine flexor tendon injuries. Veterinary Surgery, 48 (7), 1245-1252, 2019.
• Putterman A, Duffy D, Kersh ME, Rahman H, Moore GE. Effect of a continuous epitendinous suture as adjunct to three-loop pulley and locking-loop patterns for flexor tendon repair in a canine model. Veterinary Surgery, 48 (7), 1229- 1236, 2019.
• Warden SJ, Carballido-Gamio J, Avin KG, Kersh ME, Fuchs RK, Krug R, Bice R. Adaptation of the proximal humerus to physical activity: a within-subject controlled study in baseball players. Bone, 121, 107-115, 2019.
• Sartawi M, Rahman H, Kohlmann J, Leighton R, Kersh ME. A retrospective analysis of the modified intervastus approach. American Journal of Orthopedics, 47(12), 2018.
• Bakalova LP, Andreasen CM, Thomsen JS, Bruel A-M, Hauge EM, Kill BJ, Delaisse J-M, Andersen TL, Kersh ME. Intracortical bone mechanics are related to pore morphology and remodeling in human bone. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 33(12) 2177-2185, 2018.
• Kersh ME, Martelli S, Zebaze R, Seeman E, Pandy MG. Mechanical loading of the femoral neck in human locomotion. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 33(11), 1999-2006, 2018.

Articles in Conference Proceedings

• Kersh ME, Song H, Polk J. Small changes in structure and mineral density after exercise can have profound effects on mechanical strength. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 35, 39-40, 2020.
• Polk JD, Song H, Kersh ME. Subchondral and Trabecular Bone Respond Differently to Exercise in Juvenile Sheep. The FASEB Journal 34 (S1), 1-1, 2020.
• Song H, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Exercise and postural effects on trabecular and subchondral bone properties in the medial femoral condyle. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 171, 270-270, 2020.
• Moshage S, McCoy A, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Structural changes in equine proximal phalanx during growth. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 76: 52-53, 2019.
• Song H, Kersh ME. Gait and scaling effect on bone growth in rat tibia. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 33, 151-152, 2018.
• Putterman AB, Rahman H, Kersh ME, Moore GE. Duffy DJ. Effect of epitendinous suture placement for flexor tendon repair in combination with three-loop pulley and locking loop suture patterns in a canine cadaveric model. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 32 (S 04), A3841, 2019.
• Rahman M, Farley M, Conrad BD, Kersh ME, Polk JD. Effects of posture and knee joint range of motion on subchondral and trabecular bone properties. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 165: p218, 2018.
• Daly RM, Gianoudis J, Kersh ME, Wang Y, Bailey CA, Ebeling PR, Nowson CA, Sanders KM, Cicuttini KM, Hill KD. Effects of resistance and impact exercise training on trabecular bone microarchitecture and knee cartilage health in older adults at risk for falls and fracture. Osteoporosis International 29, S61, 2018.
• Rahman M, Conrad BD, Fox M, Kersh ME, Polk JD. Exercise and postural effects on subchondral and trabecular bone. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 58, E401, 2018.

Presentations

• Yan C, Warden S, Kersh ME. Tibial bone strain in basketball players during dynamic tasks. American Society of Biomechanics, 2020. PhD 3MT semi-finalist.
• Moshage SG, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Ovine cortical bone responds to moderate exercise with increased density but not bone area fraction. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference, 2020.
• Halloran KM, Moshage SG, Hammack SM, McCoy AM, Kersh ME. Compressive stress and strain on the equine third metacarpal during growth. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference, 2020.
• Yan C, Pfister J, Andersen TL, Bhargava R, Warden S, Kersh ME. Effect of fatigue loading on impact mechanics and bone composition of rodent ulnae. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference, 2020.
• Rogalski M, Kersh ME. Including muscle forces in FEA decreases strain and prevents bending of the femoral neck during walking. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference, 2020.
• Song H, Kersh ME, Polk J. Subchondral and Trabecular Bone Respond Differently to Exercise in Juvenile Sheep. Experimental Biology Conference, 2020.
• Song H, Polk J, Kersh ME. Effects of exercise and posture on three-dimensional subchondral bone properties in sheep. Orthopedic Research Society, 2020.
• Pineda Guzman R, Goldsmith S, Moshage S, Kersh ME. Replicating ligament multi-scale mechanical behavior using synthetic architected fibers. Orthopedic Research Society, 2020.
• Yan C, Warden S, Kersh ME. Effect of fatigue on impact strength in bone. Society for Engineering Science, 2019.
• Song H, Polk J, Kersh ME. Murine bone adaptation to axial and transverse loading during growth. Society for Engineering Science, 2019.
• Song H, Polk J, Kersh ME. Effects of exercise and posture on three-dimensional subchondral bone properties in sheep. Bone and Muscle Interactions: The Mechanical and Beyond, 2019.
• Moshage S, McCoy A, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Spatial heterogeneity in bone structure and composition during growth. Bone and Muscle Interactions: The Mechanical and Beyond, 2019.
• Kersh ME. Building better bones using musculoskeletal models. Bone and Muscle Interactions: The Mechanical and Beyond, 2019.
• Kersh ME, Song H, Moshage SG, Polk JD, McCoy A. Mechanical loading of bone during growth: lessons learned from rats and horses , Comparative Bone Biomechanics, International Society of Biomechanics, 2019.
• Yan C, Kersh ME. Effect of fatigue on the impact response of rat ulna. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference, 2019.
• Song H, Polk J, Kersh ME. Effects of exercise and posture on subchondral bone density and thickness of sheep. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference, 2019.
• Moshage S, McCoy A, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Equine proximal phalanx bone properties during growth. Pan-American Congress of Applied Mechanics, 2019.
• Yan C, Kersh ME. Effect of fatigue on the impact response of rat ulna. Pan-American Congress of Applied Mechanics, 2019.
• Song H, Polk J, Kersh ME. Structural and mechanical changes in rodent tibia during growth. Pan-American Congress of Applied Mechanics, 2019.
• Song H, Polk J, Kersh ME. Structural and mechanical changes in rodent tibia during growth. Orthopedic Research Society, 2019.
• Shanley J, Kersh ME. Supraspinatus-superior capsular microdamage occurs early during adduction fatigue. Orthopedic Research Society, 2019.
• Andreasen CM, Thomsen JS, Bakalova LP, van der Eerden B, van Leeuwen J, Ding M, Brüel A-M, Hauge EM, Kill BJ, Kersh ME, Delaisse J-M, Andersen TL. Characterization of the remodeling events contributing to age-induced cortical porosity and thinning: A study on human iliac and fibular specimens. Herbert Fleisch Workshop, 2019.
• Dominguese D, Barrows S, Moshage S, Kersh ME. KneeView: A virtual education window for musculoskeletal training. 19th International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, 2019.
• Thomsen J.S., C.M. Andreasen, L.P. Bakalova, A.-M. Brüel, E.M. Hauge, G.E. Toft Eschen, B.J. Kill, J.-M. Delaisse, M.E. Kersh, T.L. Andersen. "Characterization of the remodeling events contributing to trabecularization of cortical bone: A study on human fibula diaphysis," American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, 2017.
• Rahman, H. and M.E. Kersh, "The effect of cross-sectional area variation on ligament apparent properties," Orthopedic Research Society, 2017.
• Lee, W., H. Rahman, M.E. Kersh, and K. Toussaint, "Crimp characterization of porcine posterior cruciate ligament by second harmonic generation," Orthopedic Research Society, 2017.

Professional Societies

• 2014 - present: American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, member
• 2015 - present: American Society of Biomechanics, member
• 2015 - present: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, member

Research Honors

• Spotlight New Investigator (2017)
• Alice L. Jee Young Investigator Award (2017)
• Early Career Researcher Award (2013)
• McKenzie Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship (3 years, 1 of 12 university/discipline wide, single recipient in engineering, 6% success rate) (2010)
• Pre-Doctoral Graduate Research Fellowship (3 years) (2007)
• Graduate Engineering Research Scholar Fellowship (2 years) (2005 )

Courses Taught

• BIOE 481 - Whole-Body Musculoskel Biomech
• ME 481 - Whole-Body Musculoskel Biomech
• ME 598 - Orthopedic Biomechanics
• TAM 210 - Introduction to Statics
• TAM 211 - Statics
• TAM 598 - Orthopedic Biomechanics
• TAM 598 - Statics TA Training