Research Funds Awarded
June 26, 2012
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler Assistant Professor Awarded Funds from NIH
June 26, 2012
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
June 26, 2012
Dr. Neil Dong, assistant professor of health and kinesiology at The University of Texas at Tyler, has been awarded nearly $385,000 from the National Institute of Health to examine fracture risks of the human spine, Dr. Michael Odell, associate vice president for sponsored research and director of federal relations, announced.
Effective July 1, Dong will collaborate with the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases on the three-year grant.
“This project is about using stochastically treated DXA [Dual-energy X-ray] images to improve the prediction of fracture risks of the human spine. This technique uses a simple, routinely acquired DXA scan to identify people at high risk of spine fractures based on the measurement of both bone mineral density and its distribution,” Dong said.
He plans to incorporate UT Tyler student research within the biomechanics laboratory for the project’s duration.
His areas of specialization include biomechanics and anatomical kinesiology. Research interests include osteoporosis, stress fractures, sports biomechanics and occupational biomechanics.
Dong holds a master of science in engineering mechanics from Tsinghua University in China and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Columbia University.
Among honors received, Dong earned presentation as well as science and technology achievement awards while in Beijing.
For more information about the UT Tyler Department of Health and Kinesiology, contact Dr. Scott Marzilli, department chair, 903.566.7178 or SMarzilli@uttyler.edu.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.