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Brian Kelly, PhD
Spine Biomechanics
Dr. Kelly’s expertise is in the area of musculoskeletal biomechanics with focus on the mechanical behaviors of the human spinal column. His laboratory works closely with clinical neurosurgeons in the Department of Neurosurgery as well as neurosurgical residents, fellows, and research staff to better understand how disease, trauma, and surgical interventions affect the normal forces, movements, and stability of the human spine.
Dr. Kelly’s interests include the development and application of custom robotic testing systems that significantly improve the simulation of complex motion and loading patterns experienced by spinal joints during activities of daily living.
Dr. Kelly received his BS in mechanical engineering in 1987 and his MS in mechanical engineering in 1992 from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. After working as a research engineer, he returned to his graduate studies and completed his PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2005.
- PhD, University of Tennessee, Biomedical Engineering, 2005
- MS with thesis, McMaster University, Mechanical Engineering, 1992
- BS, McMaster University, Mechanical Engineering, 1987
- International Society for Advancement of Spine Surgery
- North American Spine Society
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Bioengineering Division
- Southern Biomedical Engineering Society
- Ad hoc reviewer, Spine, European Spine Journal, Journal of Biomechanics, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering (ASME)
- 2018: Resident (Jake Godzik) and Fellow (Bernardo de Andrada) Young Investigator Awards, SOLAS Annual Meeting (Co-author and laboratory principal investigator)
- 2017: Best Basic Science Paper Award (Anna Newcomb), ISASS Annual Meeting (senior author and laboratory principal investigator)
- 2017: ASU Senior Capstone “Engineering Analysis” Award; Team: Gonzao Ahuactizin, Emma Alina, Jordan Krause, Robel Okbe (Mentor and laboratory principal investigator)
- 2016: 3rd Place Student Presentation Award; Team: Maeneka Grewel, Alexander Bhatt, Arizona Science and Engineering Fair, Phoenix (Mentor and laboratory principal investigator)
- 2012: Patent Recognition Award, University of Tennessee Research Foundation Innovations
- 2008: Memphis Business Journal Health Care Hero Award in the Health Care Innovations
- 1987-1988: Research Scholarship Award, McMaster University
- English
Brian Kelly, PhD
Spine Biomechanics
Dr. Kelly’s expertise is in the area of musculoskeletal biomechanics with focus on the mechanical behaviors of the human spinal column. His laboratory works closely with clinical neurosurgeons in the Department of Neurosurgery as well as neurosurgical residents, fellows, and research staff to better understand how disease, trauma, and surgical interventions affect the normal forces, movements, and stability of the human spine.
Dr. Kelly’s interests include the development and application of custom robotic testing systems that significantly improve the simulation of complex motion and loading patterns experienced by spinal joints during activities of daily living.
Dr. Kelly received his BS in mechanical engineering in 1987 and his MS in mechanical engineering in 1992 from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. After working as a research engineer, he returned to his graduate studies and completed his PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2005.
- PhD, University of Tennessee, Biomedical Engineering, 2005
- MS with thesis, McMaster University, Mechanical Engineering, 1992
- BS, McMaster University, Mechanical Engineering, 1987
- International Society for Advancement of Spine Surgery
- North American Spine Society
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Bioengineering Division
- Southern Biomedical Engineering Society
- Ad hoc reviewer, Spine, European Spine Journal, Journal of Biomechanics, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering (ASME)
- 2018: Resident (Jake Godzik) and Fellow (Bernardo de Andrada) Young Investigator Awards, SOLAS Annual Meeting (Co-author and laboratory principal investigator)
- 2017: Best Basic Science Paper Award (Anna Newcomb), ISASS Annual Meeting (senior author and laboratory principal investigator)
- 2017: ASU Senior Capstone “Engineering Analysis” Award; Team: Gonzao Ahuactizin, Emma Alina, Jordan Krause, Robel Okbe (Mentor and laboratory principal investigator)
- 2016: 3rd Place Student Presentation Award; Team: Maeneka Grewel, Alexander Bhatt, Arizona Science and Engineering Fair, Phoenix (Mentor and laboratory principal investigator)
- 2012: Patent Recognition Award, University of Tennessee Research Foundation Innovations
- 2008: Memphis Business Journal Health Care Hero Award in the Health Care Innovations
- 1987-1988: Research Scholarship Award, McMaster University
- English