Projects per year
Personal profile
Quote
'The ‘smartest’ biomaterials are the natural tissues in our bodies. If only we could unlock their secrets and bioengineer smart biomimetic biomaterials that help our tissues to heal, responding to their cues.'
Research profile
Keita Ito chairs the research group Orthopaedic Biomechanics, where engineering and biology are combined to expand our understanding of the biomechanical function of musculoskeletal tissues as well as their adaptive developmental and physiological nature. This knowledge is then applied to explore and develop regenerative treatment strategies. Currently the research focuses on four musculoskeletal tissues: bone; articular cartilage; intervertebral disc; and tendons/ligaments.
He personally leads the research effort on the topic of the intervertebral discs. Degenerative disc disease is one of the most prevalent causes of back/neck pain that often leads to disability for individuals of working age. The goal of the research is to understand the basic mechanisms of disc degeneration and to develop long-term functional treatments for this condition.
The strategy focuses on: exploring deficient nutrition, loss of high tissue tonicity and mechanical loading as mechanotransduction mechanisms of cellular stimulated degeneration; how these degenerative changes may cause failure of disc function; and then using this understanding to explore tissue engineering approaches towards disc regeneration. The approach is to combine numerical simulations with tissue explant ex vivo experiments in bioreactors where the physical environment can be controlled.
Academic background
Keita Ito studied Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA) where he received his MSc degree in 1987. In 1994 he obtained his ScD in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics from MIT. The next year he graduated as MD from Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA, USA). From 1995-1996 he was a post-doctoral Research Fellow at the AO Research Institute (Davos, Switzerland), to become group head of the Cartilage Biomechanics Group from 1996-2003 and Vice Director and leader of the Mechanobiology Program from 2003-2007. From 1997-1998 he was a Research Fellow at the department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Inselspital University Hospital Bern (Switzerland). In 2002 and 2003 he was Visiting Scientist at the department of Biomedical Engineering of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e, The Netherlands), where he was appointed Professor of Mechano-biology and Musculoskeletal Tissue Differentiation in 2004. In 2007 he became Full Professor of Orthopaedic Biomechanics at TU/e. In 2013 Ito was appointed as Professor of Mechanobiology in Orthopaedic Regenerative Medicine at the University Medical Center Utrecht (The Netherlands), in collaboration with TU/e.
Affiliated with
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, TU/e
- Regenerative Medicine Across Borders
- Materials Driven Regeneration, NWO Gravitation Program
Partners in (semi-)industry
- DSM Biomedical BV, Geleen, NL
- AO Foundation, Davos, CH
- Fujifilm, Tilburg, NL
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Finished
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iSpine: iPSpine
Eshuis, H. (Project Manager), van Hooijdonk-Mouser, V. H. M. (Project member), Ozturk Yurt, Z. (Project member), Aysolmaz, B. (Project member), Ito, K. (Project member) & Vanderfeesten, I. T. P. (Project member)
1/01/19 → 30/06/24
Project: Third tier
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Alterations to the subchondral bone architecture during osteoarthritis : bone adaptation versus endochondral bone formation
Cox, L. G. E., Donkelaar, van, C. C., Rietbergen, van, B., Emans, P. J. & Ito, K., 2013, In: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 21, 2, p. 331-338 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
41 Citations (Scopus)6 Downloads (Pure) -
Long-term culture of bovine nucleus pulposus explants in a native environment
Dijk, van, B. G. M., Potier, E. & Ito, K., 2013, In: The Spine Journal. 13, 4, p. 454-463Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
29 Citations (Scopus)1 Downloads (Pure) -
Bone remodelling in humans is load-driven but not lazy
Christen, P., Ito, K., Ellouz, R., Boutroy, S., Sornay-Rendu, E., Chapurlat, R. & Rietbergen, van, B., 2014, In: Nature Communications. 5, p. 4855-1/5 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile200 Citations (Scopus)292 Downloads (Pure) -
Soluble and pelletable factors in porcine, canine and human notochordal cell-conditioned medium: implications for IVD regeneration
Bach, F. C., de Vries, S. A. H., Riemers, F. M., Boere, J., van Heel, F. W. M., van Doeselaar, M., Goerdayal, S. S., Nikkels, P. G. J., Benz, K., Creemers, L. B., Altelaar, A. F. M., Meij, B. P., Ito, K. & Tryfonidou, M. A., 2016, In: European Cells and Materials. 32, p. 163-180Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile32 Citations (Scopus)211 Downloads (Pure) -
Cartilage Organoids from Articular Chondroprogenitor Cells and Their Potential to Produce Neo-Hyaline Cartilage
Menssen, D. M. A., Feenstra, J., Janssen, R. P., Abinzano, F. (Corresponding author) & Ito, K., 10 Feb 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Cartilage. XX, XResearch output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open Access
Datasets
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Identifying potential patient-specific predictors for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction outcome – a diagnostic in vitro tissue remodeling platform
van Vijven, M. (Contributor), van Groningen, B. (Contributor), Kimenai, J. N. (Creator), van der Steen, M. C. (Contributor), van Doeselaar, M. (Contributor), Janssen, R. P. A. (Creator), Ito, K. (Creator) & Foolen, J. (Creator), Figshare, 5 Jul 2020
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5049755, https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Identifying_potential_patient-specific_predictors_for_anterior_cruciate_ligament_reconstruction_outcome_a_diagnostic_in_vitro_tissue_remodeling_platform/5049755
Dataset
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Database of femur samples
Hazrati Marangalou, J. (Creator), van Rietbergen, B. (Contributor) & Ito, K. (Contributor), Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, 7 Dec 2013
DOI: 10.4121/uuid:4ae59365-92f0-480b-a899-ade34bc84a00
Dataset
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Additional file 4 of Identifying potential patient-specific predictors for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction outcome – a diagnostic in vitro tissue remodeling platform
van Vijven, M. (Contributor), van Groningen, B. (Contributor), Kimenai, J. N. (Creator), van der Steen, M. C. (Contributor), van Doeselaar, M. (Contributor), Janssen, R. P. A. (Creator), Ito, K. (Creator) & Foolen, J. (Creator), Figshare, 5 Jul 2020
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12611690
Dataset
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Additional file 2 of Identifying potential patient-specific predictors for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction outcome – a diagnostic in vitro tissue remodeling platform
van Vijven, M. (Contributor), van Groningen, B. (Contributor), Kimenai, J. N. (Creator), van der Steen, M. C. (Contributor), van Doeselaar, M. (Contributor), Janssen, R. P. A. (Creator), Ito, K. (Creator) & Foolen, J. (Creator), Figshare, 5 Jul 2020
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12611684, https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/Additional_file_2_of_Identifying_potential_patient-specific_predictors_for_anterior_cruciate_ligament_reconstruction_outcome_a_diagnostic_in_vitro_tissue_remodeling_platform/12611684
Dataset
Prizes
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Journal of Orthopaedic Research and Wiley Excellence in Translational Science Award 2023
Kleuskens, M. W. A. (Recipient), Ribeiro Pereira Simoes Crispim, J. (Recipient), van Doeselaar, M. (Recipient), van Donkelaar, C. C. (Recipient), Janssen, R. P. A. (Recipient) & Ito, K. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Other › Career, activity or publication related prizes (lifetime, best paper, poster etc.) › Scientific
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Jury Award Best Scientific Paper
van Vijven, M. (Recipient), van Groningen, B. (Recipient), Kimenai, J. N. (Recipient), van der Steen, M. C. (Recipient), van Doeselaar, M. (Recipient), Janssen (Recipient), Ito, K. (Recipient) & Foolen, J. (Recipient), 18 Mar 2021
Prize: Other › Career, activity or publication related prizes (lifetime, best paper, poster etc.) › Scientific
Activities
- 1 Contributed talk
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Cartilage Organoid Production with Human Induced Chondroprogenitor Cells
Menssen, D. M. A. (Speaker), Mazzini, G. (Speaker), Ramos, Y. F. M. (Speaker), Meulenbelt, I. (Speaker), Abinzano, F. (Speaker) & Ito, K. (Speaker)
30 Nov 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Contributed talk › Scientific
Courses
Press/Media
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Reports Outline Osteoarthritis Study Findings from Eindhoven University of Technology (Knee instability caused by altered graft mechanical properties after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: the early onset of osteoarthritis?)
Spierings, J. M. H., van Rietbergen, B., Ito, K. & Foolen, J.
12/09/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Third Round National Growth Fund: Over 2.4 Billion Euros Awarded to Projects in Which TU/e is Involved
van der Spek, E. D., Anderson, P. D., Hofman, T., Ito, K., Maljaars, J., Hengeveld, B. J., Bergveld, H. J., Deen, N. G., Nijmeijer, K., Nieveen, N., Birk, M. V., Salazar Duque, E. M., Forner Cuenca, A. & Salazar, M.
30/06/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Eindhoven University of Technology Researchers Broaden Understanding of Extracellular Matrix Proteins (A decellularized and sterilized human meniscus allograft for off-the-shelf meniscus replacement)
Spierings, J. M. H., Mansoor, A., Ito, K. & Foolen, J.
28/12/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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-Eindhoven University of Technology: Major EU grants for groundbreaking research into scoliosis and transplant organ rejection
Ito, K., Mulder, W. J. M., den Toonder, J. M. J. & Bakkers, E. P. A. M.
23/04/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Major EU grants for groundbreaking research into scoliosis and transplant organ rejection
Ito, K., Mulder, W. J. M., den Toonder, J. M. J. & Bakkers, E. P. A. M.
22/04/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment