November 29, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) will unveil a project designed to evaluate the physical consequences of car crashes on children at various stages of development.
The researchers are part of the Southern Consortium for Injury Biomechanics (SCIB), a component of the UAB Injury Control Research Center (ICRC). They are working with colleagues at Wayne State University in Detroit to develop complex computer-generated Digital Child models. Wayne State is supplying UAB with data from real car crashes to develop and refine the models. Once the models are finalized, scientists at UAB will test the outcomes of traumatic impact. Scientists hope the results of this study will lead to the development of improved safety devices for child passengers.
“The impact of rapid deceleration, like that experienced in a car crash, has a different effect on children’s bodies, which are not yet fully formed, than it does on adults’ bodies,” said Russ Fine, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., director of the UAB ICRC and the SCIB. “To our knowledge, this is the first project to assess the physical responses to a car crash that will use a computer-generated simulation of a child’s entire body.”
The project will be presented at the SCIB 5th Annual Scientific Symposium on Dec. 5 and 6 in Birmingham. The symposium will draw scientists, engineers and transportation experts from across the country who will present their projects as well during the two-day event. Topics include the biomechanics of whiplash and other neck injuries, and automotive related heart injury. In addition, there will be a special presentation by Priya Prasad, Ph.D., of Ford Motor Company.
The symposium will be held at the Wynfrey Hotel, 1000 Riverchase Galleria, from 7a.m. to 4p.m. both days.
The SCIB is a unique, multidisciplinary alliance of world-class engineers, physicians and scientists working collaboratively to achieve a significant reduction in motor vehicle crash-related injuries and deaths. For more on the SCIB and the UAB ICRC, visit http://www.uab.edu/icrc/SCIB/.