METASTRA

Science thrives on diversity, innovation, and fresh perspectives. On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, #METASTRA proudly celebrates the women in our consortium—and beyond—whose dedication continues to drive progress in research, healthcare, and technology. ???? This year, we asked some of the brilliant women in METASTRA: "What words of encouragement or advice would you share with young women and girls who dream of becoming scientists? Is there something you wish you had known when you were starting out?" A huge thank you to Niccole Germscheid (AO Foundation), María ángeles Pérez Ansón (Universidad de Zaragoza), and Giulia Cavazzoni (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna) for their inspiring insights! ?? Curious to hear their advice? Read their full statements ?? To all the aspiring scientists out there: the future of discovery needs you! Keep pushing boundaries, asking questions, and shaping a more inclusive, innovative world. ?? #womeninscience #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience #STEM #womeninSTEM

Our ongoing efforts aim to enhance the quality of life for the 2.7 million cancer patients in Europe with positive prognoses, who are at risk of secondary tumors, especially in the spine. By refining patient stratification and management, we strive to reduce uncertain diagnoses from 60% to 20%, leading to more personalized and effective care. ?? This approach not only improves patient outcomes but also aligns with the global movement towards people-centered cancer care, recognizing the unique experiences and stories behind every diagnosis. Together, we are united in our mission to see the person before the patient, contributing to a future where cancer care is as unique as the individuals it serves. ?? #METASTRA #WorldCancerDay #patientcare

???Introducing AO Spine as a member of the #METASTRA consortium! The AO Foundation is a medically guided, not-for-profit organization led by an international group of surgeons specialized in the treatment of trauma and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. With a global network of over 200,000 health care professionals, the AO Foundation is dedicated to improving patient care through research, development, education, and quality assurance in the field of musculoskeletal trauma. Learn more about their role in METASTRA here ?? https://lnkd.in/edGMfifS #researchpartners #innovation #musculoskeletalsystem #patientcare

Fresh from the (pre)-press!!! In this paper just published in Acta Biomaterialia done in collaboration with Giulia Cavazzoni , Margherita Pasini, Professor Christine Le Maitre, and Marco Palanca we have investigated for the first time the effect of intervertebral disc (IVD)degeneration on the local deformation of the human metastatic vertebral bodies, combining microCT imaging, in situ mechanical testing of spine segments, Digital Volume Correlation and histology!!! The degeneration of the IVD not only affects the deformation in metastatic and radiologically healthy adjacent vertebral bodies, but also their failure behaviour! All details in the open access paper (still pre-proof at this stage): https://lnkd.in/eg8RsVGX Funders: AO Spine Knowledge Forum (AOS-KF-TUM-22–003) Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (MetaSpine, MSCA- IFEF-ST, 832430/2018) METASTRA project (EU H2022 grant ID 101080135; UK Horizon Europe Guarantee Extension ID: 10075325).

Kicking off 2025 with exciting news—the latest #METASTRA article, "Microstructure of the Human Metastatic Vertebral Body", has been published! ?? ?? What makes this study stand out? It provides a detailed look at how lytic, blastic, and mixed metastases alter the structural optimisation of vertebrae while revealing the resilience of surrounding bone tissue in specific conditions. These findings pave the way for better understanding fracture risks and structural integrity in metastatic vertebrae. A big congratulations to the authors — Giulia Cavazzoni, Enrico Dall'Ara, and Marco Palanca—for their exceptional work and dedication to advancing the field of spinal biomechanics! ?? ?? Read the full publication here: https://lnkd.in/dKaQGwfi #boneresearch #biomechanics #innovation

Wishing everyone a creative, productive, and peaceful holiday season! Thank you for being part of our journey this year—here’s to new discoveries and continued success in 2025. ?? Happy holidays! ?

Another milestone for #METASTRA – Our second publication! ?? This study provides valuable insights into intervertebral disc stiffness and its role in predictive simulations of long spine segments. The research utilised multibody models, predictive simulations, and optimisation methods to calculate intervertebral disc stiffness and test its accuracy. Key findings highlight that: ? Level-dependent stiffnesses are necessary for accurate predictive simulations. ? Introducing stiffness through a computationally inexpensive approach, such as a generic scaling ratio, does not achieve the desired accuracy. These results represent a significant step forward in refining simulation methods for spinal biomechanics, with important implications for clinical and computational applications. ??? ?? Read the full publication here: https://lnkd.in/dEy6TMJD #biomechanics #spinalresearch #predictivesimulations

?? We are proud to share #METASTRA's very first scientific publication, now available in Scientific Reports! This marks a major milestone for our project and showcases the incredible work of our team. ?? In this study, we explored the biomechanical effects of different surgical decompression techniques for the lumbo-sacral spine. Using state-of-the-art digital image correlation (DIC), we measured vertebral body displacements and intervertebral disc strain under various loading conditions—before and after laminectomy and fixation. ?? Dive into the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dNz-8dYP Here’s to many more publications and advancements to come! ?? #firstpublication #scientificresearch #biomechanics #spinalhealth #innovation

?? Introducing Charité - Universit?tsmedizin Berlin as a member of the #METASTRA consortium! The Department of Neurosurgery at Charité offers a comprehensive range of neurosurgical care, handling over 6,000 operations annually across three major campuses: Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Benjamin Franklin, and Campus Virchow Klinikum. With specialized outpatient consultation services and top-tier expertise, Charité is renowned for its excellence in neurosurgical care and research. Find more information about their role in METASTRA here ?? https://lnkd.in/d7cURXpu #researchpartners #innovation #clinicalexcellence

?? Introducing UMC Utrecht as a member of the #METASTRA consortium! UMCU, a leading tertiary referral center in the Netherlands, is affiliated with Utrecht University and boasts over 12,000 employees and 1,100 hospital beds. The Department of Orthopaedics, certified as a EUROSPINE Surgical Spine Center of Excellence, collaborates closely with Radiation Oncology to ensure optimal treatment for vertebral metastasis patients. Find more information about their role in METASTRA here ?? https://lnkd.in/dCmpGzbV #researchpartners #innovation #clinicalexcellence