Dr. Gao’s research is focused on two areas: biomechanics of soft tissues and biomechanics of the glenohumeral joint. Soft tissues, such as skeletal muscle, tendon and ligaments, connect and support other structures and organs of the body. Despite the highly different ultrastructures of different soft tissues, most of them are made of collagens, elastins, and ground substance, which include glocosaminoglycans (GAGs) and water. The mechanical properties of soft tissues depend on their ultrastructures. Disease, injury and aging are associated with changes in the chemical composition and structural organization of the tissue, which could result in changes in their mechanical behavior. Moreover, the chemical composition, the structural organization and its continuous evolution of soft tissue change with the alterations in its stress state and deformation. Dr. Gao’s work focuses on understanding how the ultrastructure (especially collagens) affects the mechanical behavior of soft tissue, as well as interactions between the internal structure and external mechanical environment.

The glenohumeral joint, which is characterized by its mobility and large range of motion, is one of the most commonly injured and dislocated joints in the body. Dr. Gao’s interest is in the role of surrounding soft tissues (rotator cuff muscles and glenohumeral ligaments) on glenohumeral stability.

Dr. Gao joined Cornell MAE faculty in January 2008. She is currently working in the Hospital for Special Surgery through the support of Cornell University ADVANCE program. She will start to work in Ithaca main campus in July 2008.