Louis E. DeFrate, PhD

DeFrate
Vice Chair Biomechanics, Movement, and Imaging Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; Director, K Lab; Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Associated Faculty

lou.defrate@duke.edu
919-681-9959

Medical Sciences Research Building I, 203 Research Drive, Room 379
DUMC Box 3093, Durham, NC 27710

The DeFrate Lab Site

The DeFrate laboratory applies engineering principles to study clinically-relevant problems involving the musculoskeletal system. In particular, they evaluate in vivo biomechanics using advanced radiographic and MRI techniques, which enables them to investigate soft tissue structure, composition, and function in healthy and diseased states.

Selected Publications and Grants

Publications

Grants

  • Biomechanical and Biological Predictors of Cartilage Health Following Meniscus Injury (Co-Principal Investigator), awarded by National Institutes of Health, administered by Orthopaedics, 2021-2026 More info
  • In Vivo Knee Motion and ACL Biomechanics During Dynamic Activities (Principal Investigator), awarded by National Institutes of Health, administered by Orthopaedics, 2019-2024 More info
  • Mechanical Biomarkers of Chronic Low Back Pain (Co-Principal Investigator), awarded by National Institutes of Health, administered by Orthopaedics, 2019-2024 More info
  • Weight loss, in vivo cartilage mechanics, and joint health (Principal Investigator), awarded by National Institutes of Health, administered by Orthopaedics, 2019-2023 More info
  • Duke CTSA (TL1) (Mentor), awarded by National Institutes of Health, administered by Institutes and Centers, 2018-2023 More info
  • Metabolomic & Radiographic Markers of Fracture Risk Among Older Adults with Diabetes (K23) (Co-Mentor), awarded by National Institutes of Health, administered by Medicine, Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, 2018-2023 More info
  • Exercise-induced recovery of intervertebral disc health (Collaborator), awarded by National Institutes of Health, administered by Orthopaedics, 2020-2022 More info
  • Biomarkers to Advance Clinical Phenotypes of Low Back Pain (BACk) (Co Investigator), awarded by National Institutes of Health, administered by Duke Clinical Research Institute, 2017-2022 More info
  • Comparison of In-Vivo Knee cartilage vs. augmented anterolateral ligament reconstruction (Investigator), awarded by Piedmont Orthopedic Foundation, administered by Orthopaedics, 2019-2021 More info
  • Age-related alterations in the in vivo mechanical function of the spine (Principal Investigator), awarded by National Institutes of Health, administered by Orthopaedics, 2017-2020 More info