Category: Physical Therapy
International collaboration
August 09, 2024 Written by Amy Cherry | Photos by Ashley Barnas Larrimore
Visiting researchers from Brazil study tendon damage at UD
Nearly a decade ago, Rita de Cássia Marqueti Durigan first contacted Karin Grävare Silbernagel, associate chair and professor of physical therapy, after reading her published research on tendon injuries.
“I reached out, introduced myself, and told her I wanted to learn more,” she said.
Eight years later, they would meet in person when Rita and her husband João Luiz Quaglioti Durigan, associate professors at the University of Brasília (UnB), had the opportunity to spend a year as visiting researchers at the University of Delaware. They traveled with their children, João Victor, 13, and Luiz Fernando, 10.
“UD is a world-renowned University, and working with the top-ranked Department of Physical Therapy is a dream,” said Rita Durigan, associate professor of physiological sciences and head of the Laboratory of Molecular Analyses at UnB.
“Most PT researchers in Brazil know that UD is one of the best,” echoed João Durigan, an associate professor of physical therapy, who directs the Muscle and Tendon Plasticity Research Group and leads that lab at UnB.
Upon arrival, they joined Silbernagel’s Tendon and Ligament Research Team.
“It is an honor to have two such accomplished researchers joining my lab for a year,” said Silbernagel. “The exchange of ideas and learning from researchers from other countries are invaluable experiences (both inside and outside of the research) for my Ph.D. students, myself, and my UD collaborators.”
Both bring specialized expertise to Silbernagel’s lab.
“Rita has expertise in the tendon, and my expertise is more muscle physiology and electrostimulation with clinical aspects, so both of our expertise fit in so well with Karin’s research,” said João Durigan.
However, they worked on separate research projects.
Rita Durigan worked with Dawn Elliott, Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and associate dean for graduate and post-graduate education in the College of Engineering, and Justin Parreno, assistant professor of biological sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, on their interdisciplinary research to investigate multi-scale tendon damage and abnormal cellular responses in tendinopathy. The study is funded by a nearly $2.4 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health.
“Overloads and overuse of the tendon are problems that athletes experience during their careers,” said Rita Durigan. “Most tendinopathies stem from these two issues. Our work aims to understand how tissue adapts from these overloads at key points -- three days, eight weeks, and 16 weeks after surgery.”
In Brazil, João Durigan studies neuromuscular electrical stimulation, a physical therapy procedure that induces muscle contractions to counteract muscle atrophy. He continued that work but focused on tendon loading with Silbernagel.
“In my lab in Brazil, we’ve studied different techniques and parameters to better understand the effects of electrical stimulation on muscles,” he said. “At UD, we’ve been testing the different applications of electrical stimulation in patellar and Achilles tendon loads and pain. This was an interesting challenge because I don’t have previous tendon expertise.”
They also learned valuable lessons in working with doctoral students.
“Karin is an excellent mentor to her students,” he said. “She pressures them to do their best work while still being kind. That was great to see and something I’ll take back to my lab in Brazil.”
Both were amazed by the innovation and advanced technology on campus.
“STAR Campus was so impressive; the architecture of the building is amazing, and the technology in the labs was state of the art,” said João Durigan.
“In the Physical Therapy Clinic, I saw ultrasound and dynamometer equipment, and that’s not common in Brazil, so in terms of technology, you can see the recovery of patients more easily,” said Rita Durigan. “I was also impressed with the Center for Biomedical and Brain Imaging at UD.”
The Durigans are excited to continue their collaborations with UD researchers when they return to Brazil at the end of August.
“I’d love for students to come to UD and work in these labs and for Karin to be a visiting researcher in our lab as well,” said João Durigan.
“They plan to send muscle samples we collected from this project to Brazil so I can do proteomics and flow cytometry and continue working on this project,” said Rita Durigan.
Silbernagel is also eyeing ways to continue the collaboration abroad.
“Based on what we have accomplished this past year, we have several manuscripts in the pipeline as well as continued research studies that will go on in parallel both at UD and Brazil,” said Silbernagel. “I am very excited about our continued collaborations, and I plan to visit their research labs in the fall of 2025.”
Outside of the professional experience, living in Newark for a year has also been a wonderful experience for Rita and João’s children.
“Our children have become more independent; they’ve made many friends, and they love their schools,” said Rita Durigan. “Our kids are fluent in English. João Victor won an award from his school as one of the best students in English and math.”
While they feel bittersweet about returning home to Brazil, they’ve gained valuable knowledge and research experience at UD and are confident the collaboration will continue.
“We’ve had to give our children wings to fly, and they’ve grown,” said Rita Durigan. “We are so grateful for this opportunity. Dr. Silbernagel is a world-renowned researcher in her field, so we’re fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with her, and we look forward to continuing the partnership.”
