Dr. Goldman’s research in bone biology aims to improve our understanding how the size and shape of whole bones, as well as the distribution, quantity and quality of the mineralized tissue that forms the bone, reflect both constraints of skeletal growth and development, and responsiveness to mechanical loading during life. 

Her research has focused on examining changes in bone quality with age in humans, including selected material (i.e., histological composition) and structural (i.e., geometric shape) properties of bone.

This research has applications to both the study of age-related bone diseases such as osteoporosis, as well as to the reconstruction of health and activities of past populations (through the study of archaeological skeletal remains).

Dr. Goldman's current research activities include studies of bone growth and development in order to better understand how these processes influence the attainment of adult bone morphology and quality at macrostructural, microstructural and nanostructural length scales, and how changes in bone structure affect fracture risk as adults and with aging.

In 2004, Dr. Goldman established the Bone Biology Laboratory, which is dedicated to the study of bone quality, structure and adaptation during growth, aging and disease. The laboratory is located at Drexel's Queen Lane campus, established with support from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. The facility provides Drexel students and residents new opportunities to participate in bone biology research, as well as to foster interdisciplinary research in musculoskeletal biology between basic science, clinical orthopedics and engineering disciplines.

Haviva Goldman, PhD, Appointed Assistant Dean, Phase 1 Curriculum
Drexel University College of Medicine News (September 26, 2024)

Selected Publications

"Biological constraints that limit compensation of a common skeletal trait variant lead to inequivalence of tibial function among healthy young adults"
Jepsen KJ, Centi A, Duarte GF, Galloway K, Goldman HM, Hampson NA, Lappe J, Cullen D, Greeves J, Izard R, Nindl BC, Kraemer WJ, Negus CH and Evans RK
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 26(12):2872-2885 (2012)

"Assessment of lamellar level properties in mouse bone utilizing a novel spherical nanoindentation data analysis method"
Pathak S, Vachhani S, Jepsen KJ, Goldman HM and Kalidindi SR
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 13:102-117 (2012)

"Surgical Treatment Options in Patients With Impaired Bone Quality. Symposium: Bone Quality: From Bench to Bedside"
Johanson NA, Litrenta J, Zampini JM, Kleinbart F and Goldman HM
Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research 469(8):2237-47 (2011)

"Measuring the dynamic mechanical response of hydrated mouse bone by nanoindentation"
Pathak S, Swadener JG Jepsen KJ, Courtland HW, Kalidindi SR and Goldman HM
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 4(1):34-43 (2010)

"Lamellar bone reconciles enamel rhythms, body size, and organismal life history"
Bromage TG, Lacruz RS, Hogg R, Goldman HM, McFarlin SC, Warshaw J, Dirks W, Perez-Ochoa A, Smolyar I, Enlow DH and Boyde A
Calcified Tissue International 84:388-404 (2009)

"Ontogenetic patterning of cortical bone microstructure and geometry"
Goldman HM, SM McFarlin, DML Cooper, CD Thomas and JG Clement
The Anatomical Record, 292:48–64 (2009)

"Lamellar bone is an incremental tissue reconciling enamel rhythms, body size, and organismal life history"
Bromage TG, Lacruz RS, Hogg R, Goldman HM, McFarlin SC, Warshaw J, Dirks W, Perez-Ochoa A, Smolyar I, Enlow DH and Boyde A
Calcified Tissue International 84(5):388-404 (2009)

"Relationships among microstructural properties of bone at the human mid-shaft femur"
Goldman HM, Clement JG, Thomas CDL and Bromage TG
Journal of Anatomy 206:127-139 (2005)

"Genetic Variation in Bone Growth Patterns Defines Adult Mouse Bone Fragility"
Price C, Herman BC, Lufkin T, Goldman HM and Jepsen KJ
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 20(11):1983-91 (2005)

"Preferred Collagen Fiber Orientation at the Human Mid-Shaft Femur"
Goldman HM, Bromage TG, Thomas CDL and Clement JG
The Anatomical Record 272A: 434-445 (2003)

"Intrapopulation Variability in Mineralization Density at the Human Femoral Mid-Shaft"
Goldman HM, Bromage TG, Boyde A, Thomas CDL and Clement JG
Journal of Anatomy 203:243-255 (2003)

"Circularly polarized light investigations of collagen fiber orientation in bone"
Bromage TG, Goldman HM, McFarlin S, Warshaw J and Boyde A 
The New Anatomist 274B:157-168 (2003)

"Correlative Light and Backscattered Electron Microscopy of Human Bone.  Part II: Automated Image Analysis"
Goldman HM, Bromage TG, Blayvas A, Boyde A, Howell P & Clement JG
Scanning 22(6): 337-344 (2000)

"Correlative Light and Backscattered Electron Microscopy of Bone. Part I: Specimen Preparation Methods"
Goldman HM, Kindsvater J & Bromage TG
Scanning 21(1): 40-43 (1999)