Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R10967/02
Title:	Tribology of Natural Synovial Joints and Their Artificial Joint Replacements
Principal Investigator:	Jin, Professor Z
Other Investigators:	Fisher, Professor J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Mechanical Engineering
Organisation:	University of Leeds
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 July 2004	Ends:	30 April 2005	Value (£):	35,061
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Biomaterials
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Healthcare
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Tribology (friction, wear and lubrication) is extremely important not only in the understanding of the normal function and degeneration of natural synovial joints, but also in the design of artificial joint replacements. The complex tribological and biological problems involved require an inter-disciplinary approach and collaboration. The aim of this proposal is to develop such an international collaboration between Universities of Leeds and Bradford (UK), University of Waterloo (Canada) and Kyushu University (Japan) in the following three Research Themes: a) Hard-on-hard bearing couples for artificial hip joint replacements; b) The lubrication mechanisms in natural synovial joints and therapeutic lubricants and c) Compliant bearing surfaces for artificial joint replacements. Particular areas of investigations will cover from basic material and surface characteristics, tribological studies of friction, wear and lubrication to biological studies of reactions to wear debris; from fundamental studies of lubrication mechanisms in natural synovial joints to applications in artificial joint replacements; and from theoretical analysis of complex lubrication mechanisms to experimental validation using functional simulators. The outcome from out research will provide further guidelines for developing better prostheses, which will have tremendous economic benefit to the UK Health Service as well as social benefit to the patients.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.leeds.ac.uk