Associate Professor
Clayton Adam

This person does not currently hold a position at QUT.
Biography
Broad area of research: Medical Engineering Main areas of researchWithin the broad field of Medical Engineering, Associate Professor Adam and his research team have defined three main research areas:- Spine biomechanics
- Scoliosis progression and treatment
- Bone microdamage mechanics.
Spine biomechanics Spine biomechanics is the study of motions and forces in the human spine, investigated in order to gain a better understanding of various spinal disorders and to develop optimal treatments. Associate Professor Adam’s team use both experimental testing and computer simulation to explore the deformations and stresses in spinal tissues during physiological loading, and to understand how various diseases affect the mechanics of spinal tissues. Scoliosis progression and treatmentScoliosis is a type of spinal deformity in which the spine develops a sideways S-shaped curve and an unnatural rotation of the ribcage (rib hump). Although not usually life threatening, scoliosis cases that progress can result in a disfiguring deformity of the spine and ribcage. Through the Paediatric Spine Research Group, Associate Professor Adam’s team are developing:
- improved predictive methods for deciding which scoliosis cases are most likely to progress (and therefore require treatment)
- advanced biomechanical models to simulate how a particular patient’s spine will respond to corrective surgery.
Bone microdamage mechanics Bone is a living material that constantly replaces old tissue with new in a process called remodeling. The main function of remodeling is to repair microscopic cracks formed in bone during physical activity. These cracks affect the strength and stiffness of bone, and certain types of cracks can trigger rapid bone loss; yet surprisingly little is known about how they form and grow during physical loading. This project will combine mechanical testing, high resolution imaging, and computer modeling to quantify the mechanics of microdamage in trabecular bone, the porous bone most susceptible to osteoporosis. The project will provide new understanding of the role of microcracks in osteoporosis and other skeletal disorders. Grants Over $2.2 million in research funding as a named chief investigator since 2000. Selected list of awarded grants Patient-specific biomechanical modelling for improved treatment of spinal deformity Chief investigators: Professor Mark Pearcy, Associate Professor Clayton Adam, Professor John Evans, Dr Geoff Askin Funding source: Australian Research Council Discovery Projects scheme (2006-08). Spinal deformities are debilitating and disfiguring conditions which strike the young and otherwise healthy, especially girls. In Australia there are over 50,000 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, a deformity for which neither cause nor cure has been discovered. Modern spinal implants apply targeted corrective forces; however, excessive force can overload spinal joints and vertebrae leading to tissue damage, implant breakage, and loss of correction after surgery. Predicting the limits of correction achievable in a particular patient requires biomechanical models of spinal tissues and implants. This project will develop new modelling techniques to optimise deformity correction and avoid implant-related complications. Improved assessment of progression risk in idiopathic scoliosis Chief investigators: Associate Professor Clayton Adam Funding source: Golden Casket Foundation The natural history of idiopathic scoliosis varies from patient to patient. Some patients develop a small curve which either remains stable or resolves during subsequent growth, while in other patients, subsequent growth causes rapid progression of the deformity requiring surgical treatment. Because of the relatively high prevalence of scoliosis in the population, assessment and observation of small curves can place significant demands on the resources of hospital spinal clinics. Due to the high number of ‘false positives’ (small curves that do not progress), school screening programs for scoliosis have been discontinued in many areas. The solution to this problem lies in improved assessment of progression risk for small curves. Knowing which curves are very likely to progress would allow resources to be allocated more effectively toward these patients. The aim of this project is to improve the prediction of progression risk in scoliosis by considering new (and biomechanically valid) measures of curve size and shape, and to develop and apply a new progression risk factor based on scoliosis patients at the Mater Spinal Clinic.
Awards and recognitions
- 2014, Best poster award, Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting
- 2010, Dean’s Excellence Award for Higher Degree Research supervision, Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering, Queensland University of Technology
- 2010, Best poster award, Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting
- 2009, Rob Johnston award, Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting
- 2006, Best poster award, Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting
- 2004, International travel bursary, Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
- 2001, Spinal research award (best paper), Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting
- 2000, Technical essay prize, ABB Limited
- 1993, IM Hunter thermodynamics prize, James Cook University
- 1993, Tuition fee scholarship, James Cook University
- 1991-3 Tertiary study scholarship, Comalco Minerals and Alumina
Career history
- 2012-ongoing: Invited Professor, Laboratoire de Biomecanique, Arts et Metiers ParisTech, Paris, France
- 2012-14: Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowship for experienced researchers (European Union 7th Framework Program).
- 2011: Medical Device Domain leader, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
- 2008-9: Medical Engineering Theme leader, Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
- 2007 - present: Principal Research Fellow (Associate Professor), Paediatric Spine Research Group, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
- 2002 - 2007: Senior Research Fellow, Paediatric Spine Research Group, School of Engineering Systems, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
- 2000: Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
- 1999 - 2002: Lecturer in Mechanics and Design, School of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Medical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
- 1998: PhD in Computational Mechanics, James Cook University, Australia
- 1994 - 1999: Mechanical Engineer, Technology and Development Group, Tate & Lyle Bundaberg Ltd
- 1994: BE(hons) in Mechanical Engineering, James Cook University, Australia
Personal details
Keywords
biomechanics, bone mechanics, constitutive modelling, finite element method, orthopaedic surgery, osteoporosis, scoliosis, spinal deformity, spine surgery
Discipline
Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- PhD (James Cook Uni. of North Qld)
- BE (hons) Mechanical Engineering (James Cook Uni. of North Qld)
Professional memberships and associations
- Member of the International Association for Computational Mechanics (IACM)
- Member of the International Research Society for Spinal Deformities (IRSSD)
- Member of the Spine Society of Australia (SSA)
- Member of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB)
Teaching
- Mechanics of Solids
- Engineering Dynamics
- Finite Element Analysis
- Computational Mechanics
- Mechanical Engineering Science
- Final-year Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Project
- Final-year Medical Engineering Undergraduate Project.
Experience
- Medtronic Sofamor Danek
- Johnson & Johnson (Depuy)
- Queensland X-Ray
- Mater Health Services Brisbane Ltd.
- Queensland Orthopaedic Research Trust.
Selected publications
- Vardakastani V, Saletti D, Skalli W, Marry P, Allain J, Adam C, (2014) Increased intra-cortical porosity reduces bone stiffness and strength in pediatric patients with osteogenesis imperfecta, Bone, 69, pp. 61-67.
- Yong M, Saifzadeh S, Askin G, Labrom R, Hutmacher D, Adam C, (2014) Establishment and characterisation of an open mini- thoracotomy surgical approach to an ovine thoracic spine fusion model, Tissue Engineering, Part C: Methods, 20 (1), pp. 19-27.
- Little P, Adam C, (2012) Towards determining soft tissue properties for modelling spine surgery: current progress and challenges, Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, 50 (2), pp. 199-209.
- Adam C, (2012) Endogenous musculoskeletal tissue engineering - a focused perspective, Cell and Tissue Research, 347 (3), pp. 489-499.
- Little P, Adam C, (2015) Geometric sensitivity of patient-specific finite element models of the spine to variability in user-selected anatomical landmarks, Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 18 (6), pp. 676-688.
- Adam C, Swain M, (2010) The effect of friction on indenter force and pile-up in numerical simulations of bone nanoindentation, Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Computer methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering., pp. 1-6.
- Cairns N, Pearcy M, Smeathers J, Adam C, (2013) Ability of modal analysis to detect osseointegration of implants in transfemoral amputees: a physical model study, Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, 51 (1-2), pp. 39-47.
- Lin F, Yan C, Zheng W, Fan W, Adam C, Oloyede A, (2012) Preparation of mesoporous bioglass coated zirconia scaffold for bone tissue engineering, Advanced Materials Research, 365, pp. 209-215.
- Lee W, Doocey J, Branemark R, Adam C, Evans J, Pearcy M, Frossard L, (2008) FE stress analysis of the interface between the bone and an osseointegrated implant for amputees - implications to refine the rehabilitation program, Clinical Biomechanics, 23 (10), pp. 1243-1250.
- Adam C, Askin G, Pearcy M, (2008) Gravity-induced torque and intravertebral rotation in idiopathic scoliosis, Spine, 33 (2), pp. 30-37.
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Clayton, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Visiting Professorships/Fellowships
- Reference year
- 2012
- Details
- 2012-ongoing - Invited Professor at Laboratoire de Biomecanique, Arts et Metiers ParisTech, Paris, France
- Type
- Fellowships
- Reference year
- 2012
- Details
- Marie Curie Incoming Fellowship for experienced researchers. DiscSim: Multiscale modelling and characterisation of the intervertebral disc (Host Institution Arts et Metiers ParisTech, Paris, France).
- Type
- Funding Award
- Reference year
- 2011
- Details
- Awarded $270k Australian Research Council Linkage Infrastructure Equipment Facilities (LIEF) grant - An integrated system for characterisation of mechanical behaviour of bio and nanomaterials at micro and nano scales in Queensland (Yan C, Adam C, Huang H, Zou J, Peng Z, Bell J, Yarlagadda P, Clegg R, Truss R, Will G, Hou M, Yin L, Watson G, Mathan B, Duan K, Pang G)
- Type
- International Collaboration
- Reference year
- 2009
- Details
- European partners awarded 170k Euros - EU FP7 International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES). MuscleUp: Towards a detailed interface for musculoskeletal modeling University of Stuttgart, Germany, University of Leeds UK, Auckland Bioengineering Institute New Zealand, QUT, Australia. CJ Adam awarded recriprocal funding from Australian Academy of Science.
- Type
- Advisor/Consultant for Industry
- Reference year
- 2007
- Details
- Spine testing consultancy for Mesoblast Ltd
- Type
- Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
- Reference year
- 2005
- Details
- Scientific subcommittee & organising committee member for Engineering and Physical Sciences in Medicine conference (EPSM 2006), held in Noosa 17-21 Sept 2006.
- Type
- Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
- Reference year
- 2005
- Details
- Invited editor for special edition of Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers - Part H, Journal of Engineering in Medicine
- Type
- Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
- Reference year
- 2003
- Details
- Reviewer for the following journals: Spine, Journal of Porous Media, Bone, Medical Engineering and Physics, Journal of Engineering in Medicine, Clinical Biomechanics, Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, Chiropractic & Osteopathy, Computational Mechanics, Connective Tissue Research.
Supervision
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- A Biomechanical Analysis of Anterior Instrumentation used in the Surgical Correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (2014)
- The Mechanics of Microdamage and Microfracture in Trabecular Bone (2013)
- The feasibility of vibration analysis as a technique to detect osseointegration of transfemoral implants (2010)
- An experimental and finite element investigation of the biomechanics of vertebral compression fractures (2009)
Completed supervisions (Masters by Research)
- A Biomechanical Analysis of Growing Rods used in the Management of Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS) (2014)
- Characterisation of Polycaprolatone-Based Scaffold Plus Recombinant Human Morphogenetic Protein - 2 (RHBMP-2) in an Ovine Thoracic Spine Model (2013)
- Nanostructured Mesoporous Bioglass Coated Zirconia Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering (2011)
- Preparation and Characterisation of Tri-Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds with Tunnel-like Macro-pores for Bone Tissue Engineering (2011)
- Anterior Vertebral Stapling for the Fusionless Correction of Scoliosis (2009)
- A Biomechanical Study of Top Screw Pullout in Anterior Scoliosis Correction Constructs (2008)