Furqan Shah

What makes our bones strong – and how to make them stronger

I am an Associate Professor in Biomaterials at the Department of Biomaterials, University of Gothenburg. My research involves using various forms of microscopy and chemical analysis methods to understand what makes biological tissues such as bone extremely strong.

Bone is not a homogeneous material, but is made up of various building blocks of different sizes and shapes that progressively build larger structures – from a single protein molecule of collagen all the way up to the long bones of our arms and legs. This is fascinating because the same fundamental unit can combine in many different ways.

Bone also contains a vast network of neuron-like cells called the ’osteocytes’ that are able to sense various stimuli from their environment and can communicate between each other and with other cell types to achieve repair of damaged bone, such as after bone is fractured.

Another unique characteristic of bone is the ability to adapt to physiological needs, for example, it is well known that the dominant arm of tennis players is thicker and has more bone.

Om besöket är på plats kan jag komma till

Kviberg, Utby, Annedal, Landala

Göteborgs universitet

Department of Biomaterials

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