Dr. Rebecca Rolfe

Dr. Rebecca Rolfe is a Physiologist specialising in Developmental Biology research that aims to advance the understanding of congenital conditions in which foetal movements are abnormal and apply information gained from developing tissues to design strategies for the repair and regeneration of biological systems. Rebecca's interests in morphological form and function are central in her research questions. Dr Rolfe began her studies in physiology, graduating from the Physiology Department in Trinity College Dublin (2008). Her interest in Developmental Biology began during her time studying her research masters in Biomedicine in the Institute of child health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College London (2010), where she worked on neural and retinal development. She undertook her interdisciplinary doctoral research within the Developmental Biology and Bioengineering groups in Trinity College Dublin, examining the identification of genes that respond to mechanical stimulation, during skeletal development. She then continued this interest in how mechanical stimulation influences skeletal development during her Leverhulme funded postdoctoral research in the bioengineering department in Imperial College London, with research investigating the importance of fetal movements in spine development. Rebecca later returned to Trinity College Dublin as a research and teaching fellow (2016-2021), during this time began examining the plasticity of the developing musculoskeletal system, investigating how periods of induced mobility following paralysis might lead to improved outcomes for the development of the skeleton. Current research involves my expertise in mechanoregulation and applying it to identify the structural changes and biological mechanisms that drive normal embryonic tendon development. The aim of this highly innovative approach is to use this knowledge to enhance the maturation of tissue-engineered tendon constructs via nanoparticle gene delivery. Rebecca is interested in widening this investigation to examine spinal ligaments and new work is examining the morphological development of these tissues, with a keen interest to understand the contribution of these tissues to spinal deformities.

  Bioengineering   BONE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT   Cell and tissue development   DEVELOPMENT   Developmental Biology   EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT   SPINE   Zoology

Spinal ligaments from development to adolescence. Understanding the role of spinal ligaments in the Pathogenesis of Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Mechanical regulation of spinal ligaments. Tendon morphogenesis: can we learn from the embryo and apply for regeneration. Role of mechanical stimulation during musculoskeletal development? How do tissues derive their distinct identities? Can knowledge obtained from the embryo be applied to in vitro differentiation regimes to engineer tissue, and be applied to help improve knowledge of congenital abnormalities for medial application? Geometric morphometrics of vertebral shape: is biomechanical input required for correct spinal curvature? Plasticity of the developing musculoskeletal system: implications for orthopaedic health