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Fascia Research Society

2018 Conference Presenters

The 5th International Fascia Research Congress will offer the most interesting and relevant fascia research presented by engaging experts. Our confirmed speakers currently include the following. Check back for updates and additional speakers. Learn more about FRC’s speakers »

ADAMANTIOS ARAMPATZIS, PhD
Humboldt-University Berlin, Department of Training and Movement Sciences, Berlin, Germany
TOPIC: Neuromuscular capacity & motor function

Adamantios Arampatzis is Professor of Movement Science, head of the Department of Training and Movement Sciences and Spokesperson of the Berlin School of Movement Science at the Humboldt-University Berlin. He received his PhD in Movement Science and Sports Medicine in 1995 and finished his Habiliation in Biomechanics in 2002 at the German Sport University Cologne. His research deals with the interaction of the central nervous and peripheral systems, how these systems develop over the lifespan and adapt to changing environmental demands. In this context the main areas of his research focus on the adaptation of the muscle-tendon unit, neuromuscular control, locomotor adaptation and dynamic stability control in healthy and pathological conditions.

PAUL HODGES, PhD, MedDr, DSc, BPhty(Hons), FACP
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), The Unversity of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
TOPIC: Pain & movement control

Paul Hodges is the Senior Principal Research Fellow and the Director of the NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health (CCRE SPINE) at the University of Queensland, Brisbane Australia. Paul has three doctorates: one in Physiotherapy and two in Neuroscience. His research blends these skills to understand pain, control of movement, and the interaction between multiple functions of the trunk muscles including spine control, continence, respiration and balance.

DANIEL LIEBERMAN, AB, PhD, M.Phil
Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
TOPIC:The Evolution of Human Walking and Running and the Cases of the IT Band and the Plantar Fascia

Daniel Lieberman is the Edwin M Lerner II Professor of Biological Science, and Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology. He received his AB from Harvard in 1986 (Summa cum laude), an M.Phil from Cambridge University in 1987, and a PhD from Harvard in 1993. His research is on how and why the human body is the way it is, with particular foci on the origins of bipedalism, how humans became such superlative endurance runners, and the evolution of the highly unusual human head.

CARLA STECCO, MD
Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova, Italy
TOPIC: Understanding matrix biology of fascial tissues: new insights during the last 3 years

Dr. Carla Stecco is an Orthopedic Surgeon and Professor of Human Anatomy and Movement Sciences at the University of Padova, Italy. She is a founding member of both the Fascia Research Society and of the the Fascial Manipulation Association. She is a member of the Italian Society of Anatomy and Histology and of the Association Française des Morphologistes. Dr. Stecco’s scientific activity is devoted to the study of the anatomy of the human fasciae from a macroscopical, histological and physiopathological point of view. She personally made over 200 dissections of fresh cadavers for research.

MELODY SWARTZ, PhD
Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
TOPIC: Lymphatic system, pathophysiology & immunity

Melody A. Swartz is the William B. Ogden Professor of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago. Her research is focused on the lymphatic system and aims to understand, modulate and exploit the complex roles of lymphatic vessels in immunity and pathophysiology, especially in cancer. Her lab draws on bioengineering approaches in cell biology and physiology, including biotransport and biomechanics, to investigate the role of lymphatic vessels in maintaining immunological tolerance and the role of lymphangiogenesis in controlling inflammation and immunity.

NEIL THEISE, MD
New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY

TOPIC: The Interstitium
Neil Theise, MD is senior author of the article Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues recently published in the journal Scientific Reports. He is a diagnostic liver pathologist and adult stem cell researcher in New York City, where he is Professor of Pathology at NYU School of Medicine. His research revised understandings of human liver microanatomy which, in turn, led directly to identification of possible liver stem cell niches and the marrow-to-liver regeneration pathway. He is considered a pioneer of multi-organ adult stem cell plasticity and has published on that topic in Science, Nature, and Cell.

FRANK WILLARD, PhD
Dept. of Anatomy, University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Portland, ME
TOPIC: Spinal anatomy & neurology of spine pain

Frank Willard is Professor of Anatomy and Neuroanatomy at the College of the Osteopathic Medicine of the University of New England (US). He also serves as a member of the teaching board at the European School of Osteopathy and the British College of Osteopathic Medicine. Gaining his PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 1981, his research focuses on spinal anatomy and the neurology of spine pain.

L’HOCINE YAHIA, PhD

Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
TOPIC: Fundamental biophysics of the human spine – beyond the classical biomechanics
Dr. L’Hocine Yahia graduated from the University of Orleans in 1977 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and earned a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Compiegne University of Technology (France) in 1980. He has been tenured faculty at Polytechnique Montreal (Canada) for 35 years. He is also an associated professor in Biomaterials and Biomechanics at the Department of Surgery of Montreal University. Dr. Yahia is currently the director of the Innovation and Bioperformance Analysis Laboratory.