A Ph.D. student at Clemson University, Hui Li, has been awarded a fellowship from Hitachi High-Tech America Inc. to further his research aimed at enhancing treatment options for intervertebral disc degeneration and chronic back pain. The fellowship, valued at $25,000, will support Li as he works to complete his doctoral degree in bioengineering.
Established in 2014, the Hitachi Fellowship is designed to assist graduate students utilizing the Clemson University Electron Microscopy Facility for their doctoral research. Li’s focus involves examining the intricate interfaces between soft tissues and bones, with the goal of identifying effective orthopedic therapies for damaged joints. His research also aims to inform the development of grafts for joint reconstruction.
Research Objectives and Collaborations
Li’s work extends to investigating the association between smoking and intervertebral disc degeneration, as well as its implications for effective regenerative treatments. As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, he studies under the guidance of Yongren Wu, an associate professor of bioengineering. Li collaborates with a spinal surgeon from the Medical University of South Carolina, alongside Clemson faculty members specializing in tissue regeneration, computational mechanics, and biomanufacturing of nanocomposites.
Utilizing the advanced equipment at the Clemson Electron Microscopy Facility, Li is able to map and analyze mesoscale calcification occurring in the intervertebral disc endplate as a result of smoking. The facility has seen significant upgrades in recent years, adding several state-of-the-art Hitachi electron microscopes that are among the most advanced globally.
“I’m honored to receive the Hitachi Fellowship and excited to continue researching how calcification in the intervertebral disc endplate begins and progresses across multiple scales and phases,” Li stated. “I hope this work will ultimately contribute to better treatments for disc degeneration, chronic back pain, and related conditions.”
Significance of the Hitachi Collaboration
The partnership with Hitachi has played a crucial role in the development of the Clemson University Electron Microscopy Facility since the mid-1990s. Over the past three decades, this collaboration has fostered the facility’s expansion and innovation. An on-site Hitachi staff member ensures that the equipment operates at peak efficiency.
“Our long-standing collaboration with Hitachi has allowed Clemson to build one of the most advanced academic electron microscopy facilities in the country,” remarked Tanju Karanfil, Clemson’s senior vice president for research, scholarship, and creative endeavors. “This facility provides a unique platform for faculty, students, and local industry to advance innovation in healthcare, manufacturing, energy, national security, and numerous other sectors right here in South Carolina and throughout the Southeast.”
Hui Li’s research, supported by the Hitachi Fellowship, represents a significant step forward in the ongoing quest to improve orthopedic care and enhance patient outcomes for those suffering from chronic back pain.
