Vasculature-on-chip models for studying metastasis and the tumor microenvironment Sarah Shelton, PhDPostdoctoral Research FellowMassachusetts Institute of Technology and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Microphysiological systems or “organ-on-chip” devices are three-dimensional models of simplified biological tissue that have greatly expanded the types of experiments and hypotheses that can be explored in vitro in recent years. My work focuses...

Engineering cell/ECM interactions in lung disease Patrick Link, PhDPostdoctoral Research FellowDepartment of Physiology and Biomedical EngineeringMayo Clinic Abstract:Cell characteristics are regulated through a variety of mechanisms, such as cytokines, the mechanical environment, or epigenetics. In lung diseases, abnormal regulation of multiple mechanisms combine to determine a shift from a healthy state toward a disease state....

Engineering tools for mechanobiology: From measuring receptor forces to cancer immunotherapy Joshua Brockman, PhDPostdoctoral Research FellowHarvard University and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering Abstract:Forces transmitted by cellular receptors regulate diverse biological processes, including hemostasis and immune function. Measuring these forces with high spatial resolution and force sensitivity remains a significant challenge. Additionally, the...

Unveiling the Potential of Multiscale Mechanobiology: From Discovery to Therapeutics and Regeneration Amir Vahabikashi, PhDPostdoctoral Research FellowCell and Developmental Biology DepartmentQuerrey Simpson Institute for BioelectronicsNorthwestern University Abstract:Cells and tissues in living organisms are continually exposed to mechanical stimuli. There is growing evidence that the interplay between these stimuli and cellular processes, referred to as mechanobiology,...