Duane Cronin


Canada Research Chair in Trauma Biomechanics and Injury Prevention

Tier 1 - 2025-09-01
Renewed: 2025-04-30
University of Waterloo
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council


dscronin@uwaterloo.ca

Research involves


Using advanced human body computational models in crash scenarios with virtual vehicles to understand how occupants respond.

Research relevance


This research will mitigate injuries and save lives.

Research summary


Globally, road traffic accidents result in the death of more than 1.1 million people each year. Another 20 to 50 million are injured. Computational human body models (HBMs) could help prevent these injuries by providing vital data on the biomechanics of crash-induced injuries. Dr. Duane Cronin, Canada Research Chair in Trauma Biomechanics and Injury Prevention, is developing HBMs to design safer vehicles and protective equipment.

He and his research team are developing HBMs that are biofidelic (human-like) and frangible (able to sustain damage similar to human tissues). These models will help them to interpret experimental and epidemiological data, investigate impact response and injury pathways in crash scenarios, and generate new approaches to prevent injury. Ultimately, these models will be used by industry and academic researchers around the world to better understand and improve human safety in vehicles.