Dr Stefaan Verbruggen
Lecturer in Medical Technology
Library Liaison Officer
School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Bone biomechanics and mechanobiology, Developmental biomechanics, Cancer mechanobiology, Organ-on-a-chip, Computational Modelling
Interests
Dr Stefaan Verbruggen is a Lecturer in Medical Technology at Queen Mary University of London. His research focuses on the mechanobiology of bone cells, and developing predictive in vitro models of cancer metastasis. As a Visiting Academic at the INSIGNEO Institute of in silico Medicine, Dr Verbruggen also builds predictive computational models of the biomechanics of metastatic bone lesions.Prior to this, Dr Verbruggen conducted his PhD research in bone cell mechanobiology the Biomechanics Research Centre at the National University of Ireland Galway, followed by postdoctoral research in how fetal movements affect joint development in the Developmental Biomechanics Lab at Imperial College London.
Dr Verbruggen was then awarded a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research Fellowship at Queen Mary University of London. As part of a collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, New York, Dr Verbruggen's investigated the mechanobiology of cancer cells, and how they metastasise to bone from other areas of the body.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Bioengineering2024
Allen O, Knight MM and Verbruggen SW (2024). Air Pollution and Osteoporosis. Current Osteoporosis Reports, Springer Science and Business Media LLC 20-09-2024
Morley EJ, Brockett CL and Verbruggen SW (2024). Analytical and computational studies predict negligible risk of cell death from eddy generation off flat surfaces in cell culture flow systems. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Frontiers vol. 12, 1340653-1340653. 07-08-2024
Verbruggen SW, Freeman CL and Freeman FE (2024). Utilizing 3D Models to Unravel the Dynamics of Myeloma Plasma Cells’ Escape from the Bone Marrow Microenvironment. Cancers, MDPI vol. 16 (5) 22-02-2024
Verbruggen SW (2024). Role of the osteocyte in bone metastasis – The importance of networking. Journal of Bone Oncology, Elsevier vol. 44 17-01-2024
2023
Verbruggen SW, Nolan J, Duffy MP, Pearce OMT, Jacobs CR and Knight MM (2023). A Novel Primary Cilium‐Mediated Mechanism Through which Osteocytes Regulate Metastatic Behavior of Both Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells. Advanced Science, Wiley vol. 11 (2), 2305842-2305842. 15-11-2023
Verbruggen SW, Sittichokechaiwut A and Reilly GC (2023). Osteocytes and Primary Cilia. Current Osteoporosis Reports, Springer 08-09-2023
Asbai-Ghoudan R, Nasello G, Pérez MÁ, Verbruggen SW, Ruiz de Galarreta S and Rodriguez-Florez N (2023). In silico assessment of the bone regeneration potential of complex porous scaffolds. Computers in Biology and Medicine, Elsevier vol. 165 14-08-2023
Sutton MM, Duffy MP, Verbruggen SW and Jacobs CR (2023). Osteoclastogenesis Requires Primary Cilia Disassembly and Can Be Inhibited by Promoting Primary Cilia Formation Pharmacologically. Cells Tissues Organs, Karger Publishers vol. 213 (3), 235-244. 22-05-2023
Nolan J, Pearce OMT, Screen HRC, Knight MM and Verbruggen SW (2023). Organ-on-a-Chip and Microfluidic Platforms for Oncology in the UK. Cancers, MDPI vol. 15 (3) 19-01-2023
2021
Schurman CA, Verbruggen SW and Alliston T (2021). Disrupted osteocyte connectivity and pericellular fluid flow in bone with aging and defective TGF-β signaling. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences vol. 118 (25), e2023999118-e2023999118. 14-06-2021
Verbruggen SW, Thompson CL, Duffy MP, Lunetto S, Nolan J, Pearce OMT, Jacobs CR and Knight MM (2021). Mechanical Stimulation Modulates Osteocyte Regulation of Cancer Cell Phenotype. Cancers, MDPI vol. 13 (12) 10-06-2021
2020
Schurman C, Verbruggen S and Alliston T (2020). Disrupted Lacunar-Canalicular Networks and Osteocyte Mechanosensation in Bone with Aging and Disrupted TGFb Signaling. 01-01-2020
2019
Schurman C, Verbruggen S and Alliston T (2019). Age-related suppression of osteocyte lacuna/canalicular networks, PLR gene expression, and pericellular fluid flow. 01-12-2019
Schurman C, Verbruggen S and Alliston T (2019). Age-related suppression of osteocyte lacuna/canalicular networks, PLR gene expression, and pericellular fluid flow. 01-01-2019
2018
Verbruggen SW, Kainz B, Shelmerdine SC, Arthurs OJ, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2018). European Society of Biomechanics S.M. Perren Award 2018: Altered biomechanical stimulation of the developing hip joint in presence of hip dysplasia risk factors. Journal of Biomechanics, Elsevier vol. 78, 1-9. 20-07-2018
Verbruggen SW, Kainz B, Shelmerdine SC, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Arthurs OJ, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2018). Stresses and strains on the human fetal skeleton during development. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, The Royal Society vol. 15 (138) 01-01-2018
Dolan EB, Verbruggen SW and Rolfe RA (2018). Techniques for studying mechanobiology. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease 1-53. 01-01-2018
Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2018). Bone mechanobiology in health and disease. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease 157-214. 01-01-2018
Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2018). Chapter 6 Bone mechanobiology in health and disease. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease 157-214. 01-01-2018
Dolan EB, Verbruggen SW and Rolfe RA (2018). Chapter 1 Techniques for studying mechanobiology. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease 1-53. 01-01-2018
2017
Verbruggen SW, Oyen ML, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2017). Function and failure of the fetal membrane: Modelling the mechanics of the chorion and amnion. PLoS One vol. 12 (3), e0171588-e0171588. 28-03-2017
Verbruggen SW and Nowlan NC (2017). Ontogeny of the Human Pelvis. The Anatomical Record, Wiley vol. 300 (4), 643-652. 15-03-2017
2016
Giorgi M, Verbruggen SW and Lacroix D (2016). In silico bone mechanobiology: modeling a multifaceted biological system. WIREs Mechanisms of Disease, Wiley vol. 8 (6), 485-505. 07-09-2016
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2016). Mechanisms of osteocyte stimulation in osteoporosis. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, Elsevier vol. 62, 158-168. 10-05-2016
2015
Verbruggen SW, Loo JHW, Hayat TTA, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2015). Modeling the biomechanics of fetal movements. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, Springer Nature vol. 15 (4), 995-1004. 03-11-2015
Verbruggen SW, Mc Garrigle MJ, Haugh MG, Voisin MC and McNamara LM (2015). Altered Mechanical Environment of Bone Cells in an Animal Model of Short- and Long-Term Osteoporosis. Biophysical Journal, Elsevier vol. 108 (7), 1587-1598. 01-04-2015
2014
Vaughan TJ, Mullen CA, Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2014). Bone cell mechanosensation of fluid flow stimulation: a fluid–structure interaction model characterising the role integrin attachments and primary cilia. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, Springer Nature vol. 14 (4), 703-718. 16-11-2014
2013
Vaughan TJ, Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2013). Are all osteocytes equal? Multiscale modelling of cortical bone to characterise the mechanical stimulation of osteocytes. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, Wiley vol. 29 (12), 1361-1372. 29-07-2013
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2013). Fluid flow in the osteocyte mechanical environment: a fluid–structure interaction approach. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, Springer Nature vol. 13 (1), 85-97. 09-04-2013
2012
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2012). Loading-Induced Interstitial Fluid Flow in Bone Mechanobiology: An FSI Approach to the Osteocyte Environment. ASME 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B. 20-06-2012
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2012). Strain amplification in bone mechanobiology: a computational investigation of the in vivo mechanics of osteocytes. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, The Royal Society vol. 9 (75), 2735-2744. 06-06-2012
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for BioengineeringOrgan-chip Facility: A world-class in vitro models facility for the UK community, reducing the barriers to adoption to drive animal replacementHazel Screen, Stefaan Verbruggen, Martin Knight, Julia Shelton, Timothy Hopkins and John Connelly
£573,537 NC3Rs National Center for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (07-10-2024 - 14-03-2025)
Mechanisms underlying preterm birth in women with HIV in rural ZimbabweAndrew Prendergast, Ruairi Robertson, Melanie Smuk, Claire Bourke, Nikolaos Donos, Robert Allaker, Abish Stephen, Conrad Bessant, Stefaan Verbruggen and Tina Chowdhury
£1,142,315 MRC Medical Research Council (01-05-2024 - 30-04-2027)
Microbiome-Bone ChipStefaan Verbruggen and Ravinash Krishna Kumar
£117,511 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (01-04-2024 - 31-03-2025)