Katherine Spack

Research Interests

  • Translational Research
  • Cartilage Biomechanics
  • Cartilage Morphogenesis

Education

  • B.S. University of California Berkeley, Bioengineering, 2018
  • M.S. Columbia University, Biomedical Engineering, 2020

About

Originally from the Silicon Valley in California, Katherine completed her B.S. in bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Here she worked in the Gronert optometry lab looking at the lipidomic markers that regulate ocular immunity in order to examine the eye's immunoprivileged status. From here, she moved on to the O'Connell joint biomechanics lab in order to examine the role of glycosaminoglycans on the hydration and tissue mechanics of intervertebral discs. Katherine began her work with the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics lab in August of 2018 as a MS/Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering.

Outside of the lab, Katherine enjoys birding, climbing, and most power tools.

Publications

Ateshian G.A., Spack K.A., Hone J.C., Azeloglu E.U., Gusella G.L., 2023. Computational Study of Biomechanical Drivers of Renal Cystogenesis. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology

Petersen C.A., Spack KA, Cook J.L., Hung C.T., Rosenwasser M.P., Ateshian G.A., 2022. Bendable Osteochondral Allografts for Patellar Resurfacing: A Finite Element Analysis Model of Congruence” Journal of Biomechanics.

Werbner B.W., Spack K.A., O'Connell G.D., 2019. Bovine Anulus Fibrosus Hydration Affects Rate-Dependant Failure Mechanics in Tension. Journal of Biomechanics. 

  • Spack KA, Petersen CA, Bozynski CC, Shyu PT, Guo XE, Rosenwasser MP, Cook JL, Hung CT, Ateshian GA. (2024) “Sterile Live Tissue Machining of Patellofemoral Osteochondral Allografts” Annual Orthopaedic Research Society Meeting
  • Bozynski CC, Fletcher C, Spack KA, Stoker AM, Ateshian GA, Cook JL. (2024) “Preclinical Assessment of Bendable Osteochondral Allografts for Patellar Resurfacing” Annual Orthopaedic Research Society Meeting
  • Spack KA, Petersen CA,  Shyu PT, Guo XE, Gardner T, Cook J, Hunk CT, Rosenwasser MP, Ateshian GA. (20223) “Bendable Osteochondral Allografts for Patellar Resurfacing: A Cadaveric Analysis of Congruence” Annual Orthopaedic Research Society Meeting
  • Spack KA, Petersen CA, Shyu PT,  Bozynski CC, Romesburg MK, Guo XE, Cook JT, Hung CT, Rosenwasser MP, Ateshian GA. (2023) “Maintaining Chondrocyte Viability in the Machining of Bendable Osteochondral Allografts” Annual Orthopaedic Research Society Meeting
  • Spack KA,Petersen CA, Shyu PT, Guo XE, Cook JT, Rosenwasser MP, Hung CT, Ateshian GA. (2023) “Bendable Osteochondral Allografts for Improved Congruence: Comparison of Computational and Cadaveric Models” Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference.
  • Ateshian GA, Spack KA, Hone JC, Azeloglu EU, Gusella GL. (2023) “Computational Study of Biomechanical Drivers of Renal Cystogenesis” Society of Engineering Science Annual Technical Meeting
  • Spack KA, Petersen CA, Shyu PT, Guo XE, Cook JL, Hung CT, Ateshian GA. (2022) “Maintaining High Chondrocyte Viability While Machining Live Canine Osteochondral Patellar Allografts” Northeast Bioengineering Conference.
  • Petersen CA, Spack KA, Cook JL, Hung CT, Rosenwasser MP, Ateshian GA. (2022) “Bending and Shifting Osteochondral Patellar Allografts Improve Patellofemoral Joint Congruence” Northeast Bioengineering Conference.
  • Gangi LR, Kroupa KR, Garcia AL, Pellicore MJ, Spack KA, Ateshian GA, Hung CT. (2022) “Toward mimicking collagen arcades in cartilage tissue engineering for improved subchondral interface integrationand tissue mechanics” Annual Orthopaedic Research Society Meeting
  • Spack KA, Shaeffer CA, Shyu PT, Cook J, Hung CT, Rosenwasser MP, Ateshian GA. (2021) "Increasing Surface Conformity in Patellar Osteochondral Allografts Through Modifications of Subchondral Bone" Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference.
  • Shaeffer CA, Spack KA, Hung CT, Rosenwasser MP, Ateshian GA. (2020) "Adaptively Conforming Osteochondral Patellar Allografts for Joint Resurfacing: A Finite Element Analysis of Congruence" Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference.
  • Werbner B, Spack KA, O'Connell GD. (2019) “Annulus Fibrosus Hydration Affects Rate-Dependent Failure Mechanics In Tension” 3rd International Workshop on Spine Biomechanics.
  • Werbner B, Spack, KA, O'Connell GD. (2019) "Effect of Proteoglycan and Water Content on Annulus Fibrosus Failure Mechanics" Annual Orthopaedic Research Society Meeting.