Dr Uphar Chamoli
Adjunct Senior Lecturer

Dr Uphar Chamoli

BTech Mechanical Engineering (2008), Indian Institute of Technology, Dhanbad

MPhil Biological Sciences (2012), University of New South Wales, Sydney

PhD Spine Biomechanics (2016), University of New South Wales, Sydney

 

Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

Uphar is a biomechanist with interests in musculoskeletal joints and structures. The overarching goal of his research is to better understand the biomechanics of various musculoskeletal joints and structures, in the intact and pathological states. He is a core member of Spine Labs, a multidisciplinary research group based at St. George Hospital (Kogarah), focusing on pathogenesis, diagnosis, and efficacy of treatment approaches for spinal pain. Over the last decade, he has worked on a wide range of orthopaedics biomechanics projects ranging from maxillofacial implants, shoulder joint pathologies, and spinal implants.

Phone
+61-2-8387-7120
Location
L3, WR Pitney building St. George Pubic Hospital Kogarah NSW 2217
  • Book Chapters | 2019
    Chamoli U; Lam M; Diwan AD, 2019, 'Replacing the Nucleus Pulposus for Degenerative Disc Disease and Disc Herniation: Disc Preservation Following Discectomy', in Handbook of Spine Technology, Springer International Publishing, pp. 1 - 20, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33037-2_94-1
  • Journal articles | 2023
    Ramakrishna VAS; Chamoli U; Larosa AG; Mukhopadhyay SC; Gangadhara Prusty B; Diwan AD, 2023, 'A biomechanical comparison of posterior fixation approaches in lumbar fusion using computed tomography based lumbosacral spine modelling', Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine, pp. 9544119221149119, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/09544119221149119
    Journal articles | 2023
    Ramakrishna VAS; Chamoli U; Mukhopadhyay SC; Diwan AD; Prusty BG, 2023, 'Measuring compressive loads on a ‘smart’ lumbar interbody fusion cage: Proof of concept', Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 147, pp. 111440, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111440
    Journal articles | 2022
    Chepurin D; Chamoli U; Diwan AD, 2022, 'Bony Stress and Its Association With Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in the Lumbar Spine: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Basic Science Studies', Global Spine Journal, vol. 12, pp. 964 - 979, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/21925682211008837
    Journal articles | 2022
    Ramakrishna VAS; Chamoli U; Larosa AG; Mukhopadhyay SC; Prusty BG; Diwan AD, 2022, 'Finite element modeling of temporal bone graft changes in XLIF: Quantifying biomechanical effects at adjacent levels', Journal of Orthopaedic Research, vol. 40, pp. 1420 - 1435, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jor.25166
    Journal articles | 2021
    Lyu J; Ling SH; Banerjee S; Zheng JY; Lai KL; Yang D; Zheng YP; Bi X; Su S; Chamoli U, 2021, 'Ultrasound volume projection image quality selection by ranking from convolutional RankNet', Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics, vol. 89, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compmedimag.2020.101847
    Journal articles | 2021
    Mah D; Chamoli U; Smith GC, 2021, 'Usefulness of Computed Tomography Based Three-Dimensional Reconstructions to Assess the Critical Shoulder Angle', World Journal of Orthopedics, vol. 12, pp. 301 - 309, http://dx.doi.org/10.5312/wjo.v12.i5.301
    Journal articles | 2020
    Chamoli U; Umali J; Kleuskens MWA; Chepurin D; Diwan AD, 2020, 'Morphological characteristics of the kangaroo lumbar intervertebral discs and comparison with other animal models used in spine research', European Spine Journal, vol. 29, pp. 652 - 662, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-06044-8
    Journal articles | 2020
    Chen X; Chamoli U; Vargas Castillo J; Ramakrishna VAS; Diwan AD, 2020, 'Complication rates of different discectomy techniques for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation: a systematic review and meta-analysis', European Spine Journal, vol. 29, pp. 1752 - 1770, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00586-020-06389-5
    Journal articles | 2020
    Ramakrishna VAS; Chamoli U; Rajan G; Mukhopadhyay SC; Prusty BG; Diwan AD, 2020, 'Smart orthopaedic implants: A targeted approach for continuous postoperative evaluation in the spine', Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 104, pp. 109690 - 109690, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.109690
    Journal articles | 2020
    Sritharan K; Chamoli U; Kuan J; Diwan AD, 2020, 'Assessment of degenerative cervical stenosis on T2-weighted MR imaging: sensitivity to change and reliability of mid-sagittal and axial plane metrics', Spinal Cord, vol. 58, pp. 238 - 246, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41393-019-0358-1
    Journal articles | 2019
    Chen X; Chamoli U; Lapkin S; Castillo JV; Diwan AD, 2019, 'Complication rates of different discectomy techniques for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: a network meta-analysis', European Spine Journal, vol. 28, pp. 2588 - 2601, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-06142-7
    Journal articles | 2019
    Chepurin D; Chamoli U; Sheldrick K; Lapkin S; Scott D; Kuan J; Diwan AD, 2019, 'Bony stress in the lumbar spine is associated with intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain: a retrospective case–control MRI study of patients under 25 years of age', European Spine Journal, vol. 28, pp. 2470 - 2477, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-06148-1
    Journal articles | 2019
    Ni J; Bongers A; Chamoli U; Bucci J; Graham P; Li Y, 2019, 'In Vivo 3D MRI Measurement of Tumour Volume in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Prostate Cancer', Cancer Control, vol. 26, pp. 1073274819846590, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1073274819846590
    Journal articles | 2019
    Sheldrick K; Chamoli U; Masuda K; Miyazaki S; Kato K; Diwan AD, 2019, 'A novel magnetic resonance imaging postprocessing technique for the assessment of intervertebral disc degeneration—Correlation with histological grading in a rabbit disc degeneration model', JOR Spine, vol. 2, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.1060
    Journal articles | 2018
    Ramakrishna VAS; Chamoli U; Viglione LL; Tsafnat N; Diwan AD, 2018, 'Mild (not severe) disc degeneration is implicated in the progression of bilateral L5 spondylolysis to spondylolisthesis', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 19, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12891-018-2011-0
    Journal articles | 2018
    Ramakrishna VAS; Chamoli U; Viglione LL; Tsafnat N; Diwan AD, 2018, 'The Role of Sacral Slope in the Progression of a Bilateral Spondylolytic Defect at L5 to Spondylolisthesis: A Biomechanical Investigation Using Finite Element Analysis', Global Spine Journal, vol. 8, pp. 460 - 470, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2192568217735802
    Journal articles | 2018
    Sabnis AB; Chamoli U; Diwan AD, 2018, 'Is L5–S1 motion segment different from the rest? A radiographic kinematic assessment of 72 patients with chronic low back pain', European Spine Journal, vol. 27, pp. 1127 - 1135, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00586-017-5400-4
    Journal articles | 2017
    Viglione LL; Chamoli U; Diwan AD, 2017, 'Is Stand-Alone Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion a Safe and Efficacious Treatment for Isthmic Spondylolisthesis of L5-S1?', Global Spine Journal, vol. 7, pp. 587 - 595, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2192568217699210
    Journal articles | 2015
    Aquilina P; Parr WCH; Chamoli U; Wroe S, 2015, 'Finite Element Analysis of Patient-Specific Condyle Fracture Plates: A Preliminary Study', CRANIOMAXILLOFACIAL TRAUMA & RECONSTRUCTION, vol. 8, pp. 111 - 116, http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1395385
    Journal articles | 2015
    Chamoli U; Korkusuz MH; Sabnis AB; Manolescu AR; Tsafnat N; Diwan AD, 2015, 'Global and segmental kinematic changes following sequential resection of posterior osteoligamentous structures in the lumbar spine: An in vitro biomechanical investigation using pure moment testing protocols', Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine, vol. 229, pp. 812 - 821, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0954411915612503
    Journal articles | 2014
    Aquilina P; Parr WCH; Chamoli U; Wroe S; Clausen P, 2014, 'A Biomechanical Comparison of Three 1.5-mm Plate and Screw Configurations and a Single 2.0-mm Plate for Internal Fixation of a Mandibular Condylar Fracture', CRANIOMAXILLOFACIAL TRAUMA & RECONSTRUCTION, vol. 7, pp. 208 - 213, http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1375172
    Journal articles | 2014
    Chamoli U; Chen AS; Diwan AD, 2014, 'Interpedicular kinematics in an in vitro biomechanical assessment of a bilateral lumbar spondylolytic defect', Clinical Biomechanics, vol. 29, pp. 1108 - 1115, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2014.10.002
    Journal articles | 2014
    Chamoli U; Chen AS; Diwan AD, 2014, 'To the editor', Spine, vol. 39, pp. 921, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000000310
    Journal articles | 2014
    Chamoli U; Diwan AD; Tsafnat N, 2014, 'Pedicle screw-based posterior dynamic stabilizers for degenerative spine: In vitro biomechanical testing and clinical outcomes', Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part A, vol. 102, pp. 3324 - 3340, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.34986
    Journal articles | 2013
    Wroe S; Chamoli U; Clausen P; Parr WCH; Ridgely R; Witmer L, 2013, 'Comparative Biomechanical Modeling of Metatherian and Placental Saber-Tooths: A Different Kind of Bite for an Extreme Pouched Predator', PLoS ONE, vol. 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0066888
    Journal articles | 2012
    Parr W; Wroe S; Chamoli U; Richards H; Mccurry M; Clausen P; McHenry C, 2012, 'Toward integration of geometric morphometrics and computational biomechanics: New methods for 3D virtual reconstruction and quantitative analysis of Finite Element Models', Journal of Theoretical Biology, vol. 301, pp. 1 - 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2012.01.030
    Journal articles | 2012
    Parr WCH, 2012, 'Finite element micro-modelling of a human ankle bone reveals the importance of the trabecular network to mechanical performance: and new methods for the generation and comparison of 3D models', Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 46, pp. 200 - 205, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2012.11.011
    Journal articles | 2011
    Oldfield C; Clausen P; McHenry C; Chamoli U; Parr W; Stynder D; Wroe S, 2011, 'Finite Element Analysis of ursid cranial mechanics and the prediction of feeding behaviour in the extinct giant Agriotherium africanum', Journal of Zoology, vol. 286, pp. 171, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00862.x
    Journal articles | 2010
    Wroe S; Ferrara T; McHenry C; Curnoe D; Chamoli U, 2010, 'The craniomandibular mechanics of being human', Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B - Biological Sciences, vol. 277, pp. 3579 - 3586, http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.0509
  • Preprints | 2020
    Chepurin D; Chamoli U; Diwan AD, 2020, Bony Stress and Its Association With Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in the Lumbar Spine: a Review of Clinical and Basic Science Studies, http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-51303/v1
    Conference Abstracts | 2020
    Diwan A; Chen X; Chamoli U; fogel H, 2020, 'Clinicians’ perceptions around discectomy surgery for lumbar disc herniation: a survey of orthopaedic and neuro-surgeons in Australia and New Zealand', in Clinicians’ perceptions around discectomy surgery for lumbar disc herniation: a survey of orthopaedic and neuro-surgeons in Australia and New Zealand, virtual, presented at Proceeding of the 2020 Spine Society of Australia Virtual Meetin, virtual, 20 November 2020 - 20 November 2020

  • AO Spine Discovery and Innovation Award 2019. Decay Variance: A Novel MRI Tool for Quantifying Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Low Back Pain. Sheldrick, K, Chamoli, U, Diwan, A
  • Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant 2018 to attend the 45th annual ISSLS meeting in Banff (Canada). Chamoli, U
  • Society of Lateral Access Surgery Research Grant 2017. The mechanical burden on the facet-joint capsule and adjacent segments with the lateral placement of a lordotic cage with and without the release of the anterior longitudinal ligament. Chamoli, U and Diwan, A
  • AO Spine Australia and New Zealand Research Grant 2016. The role of sacral slope and disc degeneration in the progression of vertebral slippage in low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis of L5-S1: A finite element study. Chamoli, U, Tsafnat, N, Diwan, A

  • Best Abstract and Presentation award. Asia-Pacific Society of Lateral Access Surgery meeting, Sydney, 2017
  • Young Investigator Award in Basic Science category, St. George & Sutherland Medical Research Symposium, Sydney, 2014
  • International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (PhD) from UNSW Sydney, 2012
  • Postgraduate Writing Award from the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW Australia, 2011
  • Comp Biomech International Summer Research Scholarship for undergraduates, School of BEES, UNSW Australia, 2008
  • International Summer Research Scholarship for undergraduates, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, 2007

Uphar is passionate about the translation of research into clinical practice. He works at the interface of academia and industry and helps medical device start-up companies to bring novel orthopaedic implants and technologies to clinical use.

Uphar uses a holistic approach in his research to examine clinically relevant biomechanics questions. He has developed novel image processing and finite element modelling techniques for developing patient-specific computer models of musculoskeletal joints using CT and MRI data. He has also developed in vitro biomechanical testing protocols for testing cadaveric specimens for investigating various clinically relevant biomechanics hypothesis in orthopaedics. He is routinely involved in clinical study design, diagnostic imaging studies, analysis of clinical outcomes data, and systematic reviews.

His research interests include

  • Orthopaedics biomechanics
  • Finite element modelling, multi-body mechanics
  • In vitro biomechanical testing, motion metrics
  • Image processing, Diagnostic imaging (CT, MR, Ultrasound, X-ray)
  • Clinical study design, patient outcomes data
  • Translational research

His current research is focused around the biomechanics of lumbar disc herniation, pathogenesis and pathophysiology, loss in segmental stiffness following herniation, the efficacy of surgical and non-surgical treatment approaches, and various factors leading to recurrent herniation.

Uphar serves as the Research Officer (2019-2022) for the AOSpine ANZ council, a leading global community of academics and clinicians for innovative education and research in spinal care.

My Research Supervision

PhD candidates:

  • Vivek Ramakrishna (Scientia PhD candidate since February 2019) - Smart orthopaedic spinal implants for in-vivo load measurements
  • Xiaolong Chen (PhD candidate since July 2018) - Studies on microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation
  • Kyle Sheldrick (PhD candidate since February 2018) - Developing novel MRI post-processing algorithms for quantitative assessment of intervertebral disc degeneration
  • Geoff Smith (PhD candidate since February 2018) - Studies on critical shoulder angle