Summary
This Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award supports research to determine how matrix-bound water contributes to the bone’s ability to carry load and resist fracture. Although bone fractures are common and costly, most tools used to estimate fracture risk rely primarily on measurements of mineral content and overlook the role of water and collagen in the bone matrix. This project will examine how matrix-bound water changes across the bone structure during aging and reduced mechanical use; and identify when and where water loss begins to impact mechanical performance. By combin
