When our ancestors began walking upright millions of years ago, the human pelvis underwent a dramatic transformation. This shift to bipedalism — walking on two legs — was one of the defining moments in human evolution, but it came at a cost. As the pelvis reshaped itself to support an upright posture, and as the human brain grew larger over time, giving birth became increasingly difficult. Today, complications during childbirth remain a major global health concern, contributing to maternal mortality and long-term conditions such as pelvic floor disorders.
Despite decades of research on how the pelvis differs between men and women, a fundamental question remains unanswered: how does the pelvis actually develop from birth to adulthood, and what factors — biological, environmental, and social — shape its final form? This gap in knowledge limits our ability to understand why some women face higher risks during delivery than others.
RISEN addresses this gap by studying pelvic development across the entire lifespan, from infancy to old age, using advanced three-dimensional imaging and shape analysis techniques. The project asks four key questions: How do the different parts of the pelvic bone grow and change together during childhood and adolescence? How do factors such as body weight, health, and living conditions affect pelvic shape? Are there specific bone features in women that can be linked to a higher risk of birth complications? And how does pelvic development in modern humans compare to that of our fossil ancestors?
RISEN combines evolutionary research with women's health to bridge this knowledge gap. By understanding how the pelvis develops and what influences its shape, the project aims to contribute new insights relevant to both human evolution and clinical practice.
