Find a Researcher
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
Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy Construct Optimization: A Cadaveric Study of Various Multirod and Interbody Configurations
Date: 01/2022
Authors: Bernardo de Pereira, Jakub Godzik, Jennifer N. Lehrman, Anna G. Sawa, Randall J. Hlubek, Juan S. Uribe, Brian P. Kelly, Jay D. Turner
Optimizing Cervicothoracic Junction Biomechanics after C7 Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy: A Cadaveric Study of Stability and Rod Strain
Date: 01/2022
Authors: Jakub Godzik, Jennifer N. Lehrman, S Harrison Farber, Bernardo de Andrada Pereira, Anna G. Sawa, Christopher P. Ames, Heiko Koller, Kevin Lee, Jay D. Turner, Brian P. Kelly
Biomechanics of a laterally placed sacroiliac joint fusion device supplemental to S2 alar-iliac fixation in a long-segment adult spinal deformity construct: a cadaveric study of stability and strain distribution
Date: 01/2022
Authors: Bernardo de Andrada Pereira, Piyanat Wangsawatwong, Jennifer N. Lehrman, Anna G. Sawa, Derek P. Lindsey, Scott A. Yerby, Jakub Godzik, Alexis M. Waguespack, Juan S. Uribe, Brian P. Kelly
Does the Choice of Spinal Interbody Fusion Approach Significantly Affect Adjacent Segment Mobility?
Date: 11/2021
Authors: Piyanat Wangsawatwong, Anna G. Sawa, Bernardo de Pereira, Jennifer N. Lehrman, Jay D. Turner, Juan S. Uribe, Brian P. Kelly
In Vitro Biomechanics of Human Cadaveric Cervical Spines With Mature Fusion
Date: 10/2021
Authors: Anna G. Sawa, Bernardo de Andrada Pereira, Nestor G. Rodriguez-Martinez, Phillip M. Reyes, Brian P. Kelly, Neil R. Crawford
- 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
Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy Construct Optimization: A Cadaveric Study of Various Multirod and Interbody Configurations
Date: 01/2022
Authors: Bernardo de Pereira, Jakub Godzik, Jennifer N. Lehrman, Anna G. Sawa, Randall J. Hlubek, Juan S. Uribe, Brian P. Kelly, Jay D. Turner
Optimizing Cervicothoracic Junction Biomechanics after C7 Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy: A Cadaveric Study of Stability and Rod Strain
Date: 01/2022
Authors: Jakub Godzik, Jennifer N. Lehrman, S Harrison Farber, Bernardo de Andrada Pereira, Anna G. Sawa, Christopher P. Ames, Heiko Koller, Kevin Lee, Jay D. Turner, Brian P. Kelly
Biomechanics of a laterally placed sacroiliac joint fusion device supplemental to S2 alar-iliac fixation in a long-segment adult spinal deformity construct: a cadaveric study of stability and strain distribution
Date: 01/2022
Authors: Bernardo de Andrada Pereira, Piyanat Wangsawatwong, Jennifer N. Lehrman, Anna G. Sawa, Derek P. Lindsey, Scott A. Yerby, Jakub Godzik, Alexis M. Waguespack, Juan S. Uribe, Brian P. Kelly
Does the Choice of Spinal Interbody Fusion Approach Significantly Affect Adjacent Segment Mobility?
Date: 11/2021
Authors: Piyanat Wangsawatwong, Anna G. Sawa, Bernardo de Pereira, Jennifer N. Lehrman, Jay D. Turner, Juan S. Uribe, Brian P. Kelly
In Vitro Biomechanics of Human Cadaveric Cervical Spines With Mature Fusion
Date: 10/2021
Authors: Anna G. Sawa, Bernardo de Andrada Pereira, Nestor G. Rodriguez-Martinez, Phillip M. Reyes, Brian P. Kelly, Neil R. Crawford
- English