In a major leap forward for research at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU), students and faculty now have access to a powerful new tool that could change the way we understand — and improve — healthcare materials: the Instron 34SC-5 Universal Testing Machine.
Now housed on campus, the state-of-the-art device enables researchers to test how materials perform under pressure — literally. Whether stretched, bent, compressed, or stressed over time, the Instron captures real-time data about how a material behaves in conditions that simulate real-world use. For healthcare professionals designing tools and treatments, that data is invaluable.
“It’s something our students can start using right away.”
“It’s a huge step forward for our research capabilities,” said Dr. Renata Monteiro, Assistant Professor of Dentistry at PNWU. “And it’s something our students can start using right away.”
The new machine offers hands-on opportunities for PNWU researchers to test materials, analyze their properties, and think critically about what makes them work — or fail — in clinical settings. In dentistry, for example, the Instron is used to determine how well new restorative materials can withstand the force of chewing before being used in patient care.
And the potential stretches well beyond dentistry.
“This machine supports collaboration across programs,” said Dr. Monteiro. “From engineering to medicine to therapy — we can use it to better understand the tools and materials that serve our patients.”
One of the team’s first major research initiatives is focused on patients undergoing head and neck radiation. Radiation therapy can compromise the strength and structure of dental tissues, but clinicians don’t yet have clear guidance on which restorative materials hold up best under those conditions. Dr. Monteiro and her colleagues hope to change that.
“It’s research that could really make a difference.”
“Our goal is to identify materials that can help these patients preserve their teeth and quality of life,” she said. “It’s research that could really make a difference — especially in rural areas where access to dental care is already limited.”
In addition to its dental-related potential, the Instron machine also allows PNWU students and faculty to analyze bone and cartilage material properties, explained Dr. Christian Heck, Assistant Professor of Anatomy. “These two hard tissues are dynamic composites of different collagen and blood supply organizations based on growth rate and external factors,” he said. The machine, he explained, can be used to analyze, for the first time, unique bone composites found within human and non-human bone. These analyses can then aide in understanding bone pathology and planning surgical intervention and reconstruction of bone.
The grant that funded the machine — awarded through a competitive internal proposal process — was celebrated for its alignment with PNWU’s mission and its commitment to hands-on, interprofessional research. The proposal outlined not only equipment use and maintenance, but a vision for collaborative, student-driven study that directly serves community health.
“This is the kind of project that reflects our values,” said Dr. Casey Wright, Director of Scholarly Activity for the School of Dental Medicine. “It gives students meaningful research training, helps faculty generate results that can lead to larger grants down the line, and ultimately discover how to best care for patients.”
For students, the benefits are immediate: hands-on research experience, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving that translate directly to clinical practice. They’re learning not just how to use advanced tools — but how to apply them in service to real patients.
As the university grows, so does its research infrastructure. With the addition of the Instron machine, PNWU takes another step toward becoming a regional research powerhouse — one grounded in mission, innovation, and community impact.
“We’re not just preparing students to practice — we’re preparing them to lead.”
“This grant sends a strong message about the future of research at PNWU,” said Dr. Monteiro. “We’re not just preparing students to practice — we’re preparing them to lead.”
Featured in photo at top: Drs. Renata Monteiro and Christian Heck