Dr. Franck is the Bjorn Borgen Professor in Mechanical Engineering and the acting director of the Center for Traumatic Brain Injury at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the ONR-funded “Physics-based Neutralization of Threats to Human Tissues and Organs” (PANTHER) program, which consists of over 30 PIs nationwide. Key objectives of Dr. Franck’s research program within PANTHER are in advanced detection and prevention of traumatic brain injuries by providing accelerated translation from basic science discovery to civilian and warfighter protection solutions.
Our lab focuses on the development of innovative 2D and 3D, full-field imaging and motion tracking techniques with applications to mechanobiology, biomechanics and the mechanics of soft materials.
Current application areas of our experimental techniques include investigating the mechanobiology of neurons in the brain during traumatic brain injuries, the adhesion and migration behavior of human neutrophils, and the role of non-linear material deformations in soft matter.