Seminar 5th March 2012 4 p.m. Room 3019, Lancaster Building (7)
Cardiovascular Biomechanics
Dr. Thomas FRANZ
University of Cape Town
- Web page
- http://www.biomechanics.uct.ac.za/
- Categories
- Biomechanics, Biomedical, CFD
- Submitter
- Marcus Erridge
COMPUTATIONAL BIOMECHANICS IN TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN AFRICA
Given by our guest Dr. Thomas Franz
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Cardiovascular Biomechanics Lab, Chris Barnard Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
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Centre for Research in Computational and Applied Mechanics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
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Centre for High Performance Computing, CSIR, Rosebank, South Africa
ABSTRACT:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) will become the leading cause of death by 2020 superseding infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. In Africa, a dramatic increase in CVD incidences is expected, predominantly in children, in the near future.
This development concurs with the emergence of a new epidemic of obesity, diabetes and uncontrolled hypertension, partially based on improvement of socio-economic conditions and adoption of a western diet.
Efficient and affordable strategies for treatment and prevention of CVD are urgently needed. With the trend to therapies based on regenerative medicine, multi-disciplinary approaches are increasingly required. The importance of biomechanics in many of these approaches, alongside cellular bioengineering, advanced biomaterials, and other disciplines is only emerging. This talk will address challenges of biomechanics in treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction, vascular diseases and rheumatic heart disease, with particular reference to the African situation.
ABOUT:
Thomas Franz is an Associate Professor and heads the Cardiovascular Biomechanics Laboratory of the Chris Barnard Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Cape Town.
Thomas's 3 weeks visit to Southampton is currently supported by a Royal Academy of Engineering Distinguished Visitor Fellowship.
Image: http://www.biomechanics.uct.ac.za/