Adam Carter – Orthopedic Research Technician, Lab Manager
Schlecht Lab, Indiana University School of Medicine
Dates: August 2022 – August 2025
Research Focus:
Investigating the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), including its development, function, and response to mechanical loading.
Elucidating postnatal development of the knee joint and ACL-complex, focusing on how the ACL and surrounding bony structures respond to load during adolescence and early musculoskeletal maturity.
Studying fatigue-induced damage accumulation in the ACL and the long-term physiological responses following catastrophic ligament injuries.
Animal Model Research:
Development and Implementation of Novel Rodent Models: Played a key role in utilizing novel in vivo rodent models developed by the lab to investigate the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and its response to various mechanical loads. These models simulate real-world conditions experienced by adolescent athletes, allowing for detailed analysis of the ligament's development, function, and injury patterns.
Adolescent and Musculoskeletal Maturity Studies: Focused on the effects of mechanical loading during adolescence, a critical period for musculoskeletal development. Conducted studies to understand how the ACL complex (ligament and entheses) and surrounding bony structures respond to load perturbations during this stage. These studies aim to uncover how loading during athletic activities affects ligament growth and strength, providing insights into injury risk factors.
Fatigue-Induced Damage Accumulation: Led experiments examining how repetitive loading and fatigue lead to damage accumulation within the ACL complex. By analyzing rodent models exposed to controlled load cycles, these studies contribute to understanding the progressive weakening of ligaments under stress, a key factor in preventing overuse injuries common in athletes.
Long-Term Physiological Responses Post-Injury: Investigated the long-term physiological responses of ACL matrices, particularly the entheseal regions, following catastrophic ligament injuries. The rodent models provided a platform for analyzing the healing process and scarring, as well as identifying how the ACL responds to injury over time. This research aims to inform better rehabilitation strategies and surgical techniques to prevent re-injury and mitigate the risk of early-onset osteoarthritis.
Translational Application: Findings from these rodent studies are essential for developing new clinical diagnostics for ACL injury prevention, particularly in adolescent and young adult recreational and competitive athletes. Insights gained from these models help bridge the gap between animal research and human clinical applications, contributing to the overall goal of improving ACL injury prevention and post-surgery outcomes.
Clinical Collaborations & Translational Research:
Partnered with clinicians across orthopedic surgery, neurology, and sports medicine on projects with direct human applications.
Contributed to studies evaluating novel surgical repair and reconstruction techniques, focusing on improving biomechanical strength, healing, and long-term patient outcomes.
Assisted in biomarker and imaging-based research aimed at identifying early diagnostic tools for ACL injury risk and progression to post-traumatic osteoarthritis.
Designed and implemented experiments bridging preclinical findings with patient care, emphasizing injury prevention, improved rehabilitation strategies, and more effective surgical approaches.
Collaborated with multiple clinical institutions to ensure laboratory research directly informs patient-centered advances.
Adam Carter – Genetic Lab Technician
Labcorp, Genotyping Team
Dates: November 2024 - July 2025
Clinical & Molecular Diagnostics Experience:
Performed molecular assays including:
HCV LiPA (line probe assay for hepatitis C virus genotyping)
KRAS mutation testing for oncology applications
APOE genotyping for cardiovascular and neurological risk assessment
CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 pharmacogenomic testing to guide therapeutic decision-making
Conducted DNA and RNA extractions with high accuracy and consistency for downstream diagnostic assays.
Applied rigorous quality control protocols in a high-throughput clinical setting to ensure reliability of test results.
Gained hands-on experience with clinical laboratory workflow, compliance, and efficiency in a regulated healthcare environment.
Strengthened skills in precision, data integrity, and teamwork, contributing to accurate patient testing outcomes.
Key Skills:
In Vivo Rodent Model Research: Expertise in developing and conducting experiments using rodent models to study ACL development and injury response.
Biomechanical Analysis: Proficient in analyzing the mechanical response of the ACL and surrounding structures to load and injury.
Genotyping & Molecular Diagnostics: Experience with clinical assays (HCV LiPA, KRAS, APOE, CYP2C19, CYP2C9), DNA/RNA extraction, and pharmacogenomic testing.
Clinical Collaborations: Partnered with surgeons, neurologists, and sports medicine specialists on projects with translational applications in diagnostics, imaging, and surgical repair.
Data Collection and Analysis: Skilled in experimental data collection and interpretation, with proficiency in NIS applications, ImageJ, and Dragonfly.
Collaborative Research: Strong record of collaboration with universities and clinical institutions to translate research findings into human applications.