Professor of Cardiovascular Mechanobiology and Bioengineering
Industry Lead of The Centre for Bioengineering
Mechanobiology, Organ-on-a-chip, Cardiovascular Engineering, Micro- and Nano-patterning, Cell Mechanics and Cell Engineering, Cytoskeleton
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Bioengineering
Mitochondrial Adaptation to Mechanical Stress in Cardiac Ageing and DiseaseMatrix-associated extracellular vesicles modulate human smooth muscle cell adhesion and directionality by presenting collagen VIMechanosensitive biochemical imprinting of the talin interaction with DLC1 regulates RhoA activity and cardiomyocyte remodelingRole of the extracellular matrix in cardiac ageingDysregulated SASS6 expression promotes increased ciliogenesis and cellinvasion phenotypesBS42 Mechanical imprinting of the talin interaction with DLC1 regulates RHOA activity and cardiomyocyte remodellingBiocooperative Regenerative Materials by Harnessing Blood‐Clotting and Peptide Self‐AssemblyMechano-epigenetic regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype in atherosclerosisTunable electrospun scaffolds of polyacrylonitrile loaded with carbon nanotubes: from synthesis to biological applicationsHypertensive Pressure Mechanosensing Alone Triggers Lipid Droplet Accumulation and Transdifferentiation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Foam Cells (Adv. Sci. 9/2024)Sox9 Accelerates Vascular Aging by Regulating Extracellular Matrix Composition and StiffnessSelective placement of functionalised DNA origami via thermal scanning probe lithography patterningHypertensive Pressure Mechanosensing Alone Triggers Lipid Droplet Accumulation and Transdifferentiation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Foam CellsMatrix-associated extracellular vesicles modulate smooth muscle cell adhesion and directionality by presenting collagen VILem2 is essential for cardiac development by maintaining nuclear integrityMyonuclear alterations associated with exercise are independent of age in humansCardiovascular Mechano-Epigenetics: Force-Dependent Regulation of Histone Modifications and Gene RegulationPhotoelectrochemical imaging of single cardiomyocytes and monitoring of their action potentials through contact force manipulation of organoidsRegulation of Cardiomyocyte Adhesion and
Mechanosignalling Through Distinct Nanoscale Behaviour of
Integrin Ligands Mimicking Healthy or Fibrotic ECMThe role of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex in muscle cell mechanotransductionPressure and stiffness sensing together regulate vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switching.Factoring in the force: A novel role for eIF6.Cardiovascular mechanobiology—a Special Issue to look at the state of the art and the newest insights into the role of mechanical forces in cardiovascular development, physiology and diseaseTools for studying and modulating (cardiac muscle) cell mechanics and mechanosensing across the scalesAnnouncing the call for the Special Issue on “Cardiovascular mechanobiology—a special issue to look at the state of the art and the newest insights into the role of mechanical forces in cardiovascular development, physiology, and disease”Glioma stem cells invasive phenotype at optimal stiffness is driven by MGAT5 dependent mechanosensingCell scientist to watch – Thomas IskratschContractile myosin rings and cofilin-mediated actin disassembly orchestrate ECM nanotopography sensingLamin-A Mechano-Protects the HeartTumour angiogenesis is differentially regulated by endothelial cell Focal Adhesion Kinase tyrosine-397 and -861 phosphorylationCostameres, dense plaques and podosomes: the cell matrix adhesions in cardiovascular mechanosensingProbing the nanoscale organisation and multivalency of cell surface receptors:\nDNA origami nanoarrays for cellular studies with single-molecule controlMix and (mis-)match – The mechanosensing machinery in the changing environment of the developing, healthy adult and diseased heartCalponin-3 is critical for coordinated contractility of actin stress fibersCardiomyocytes Sense Matrix Rigidity through a Combination of Muscle and Non-muscle Myosin Contractions.Similar Effects of Humoral or Mechanical Stress on Cell-Cell Contacts in Cultured CardiomyocytesPolymer fiber-based models of connective tissue repair and healingAlterations in cardiac cytoarchitecture due to cellular stress in dilated cardiomyopathyActin polymerization-dependent activation of Cas-L promotes immunological synapse stability.α-Actinin links extracellular matrix rigidity-sensing contractile units with periodic cell-edge retractions.Cellular Stress Affects the Nucleoskeleton in Dilated CardiomyopathyTropomyosin controls sarcomere-like contractions for rigidity sensing and suppressing growth on soft matrices.Micropatterning of TCR and LFA-1 ligands reveals complementary effects on cytoskeleton mechanics in T cells.Changes in cardiac cytoarchitecture in human dilated cardiomyopathyEarly Events in Cell Spreading as a Model for Quantitative Analysis of Biomechanical EventsAppreciating force and shape—the rise of mechanotransduction in cell biology.The formin FHOD1 in cardiomyocytes.N-WASP-directed actin polymerization activates Cas phosphorylation and lamellipodium spreadingFHOD1 at Early Integrin Adhesions Drives Cell SpreadingRigidity sensing by tropomyosin-regulated nanometer steps in local contractionsFHOD1 Is Needed for Directed Forces and Adhesion Maturation during Cell Spreading and MigrationSarcomere-Like Units Contract Cell EdgesEndoplasmic spreading requires coalescence of vimentin intermediate filaments at force-bearing adhesionsTwo distinct phosphorylation events govern the function of muscle FHOD3Finding the weakest link – exploring integrin-mediated mechanical molecular pathwaysEarly cell spreading depends on actin polymerisation from integrin clusters by FHOD1.Actin in striated muscle: recent insights into assembly and maintenanceFormin-g muscle cytoarchitecture.Sequential action of formin family proteins during fibroblast adhesion and spreadingFormin follows function: a muscle-specific isoform of FHOD3 is regulated by CK2 phosphorylation and promotes myofibril maintenanceFormin follows function: a muscle-specific isoform of FHOD3 is regulated by CK2 phosphorylation and promotes myofibril maintenanceAberrant development of neuromuscular junctions in glycosylation-defective Largemyd miceMammalian cells contain a second nucleocytoplasmic hexosaminidaseSpecificity analysis of lectins and antibodies using remodeled glycoproteinsRegulation of Cardiomyocyte Adhesion and Mechanosignalling Through Distinct Nanoscale Behaviour of Integrin Ligands Mimicking Healthy or Fibrotic ECMLem2 is essential for cardiac development by maintaining nuclear integrityPhotoelectrochemical imaging of action potentials for single cardiomyocytes through contact force manipulation of organoidsMyonuclear alterations associated with exercise are independent of age in humansCardiomyocyte mechanical memory is regulated through the talin interactome and DLC1 dependent regulation of RhoADysregulated SASS6 expression promotes increased ciliogenesis and cell invasion phenotypesGrants of specific relevance to the Centre for BioengineeringCOacT PhD Studentship_Band A 25/26 - Heart-joint On A ChipGenerate and test a cutting-edge Organ-on-a-Chip technology for Polycystic Kidney DiseaseRole of the mechano-lipid matabolic signalling axis in cardiovascular disease
The role of novel mechanosensitive complex in cardiomyocyte pathophysiologyEPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technology (COaCT)Talin dependent mechanical imprinting as driver for cardiac disease progressionThermochemical patterning to generate Bionanoarrays: Studentship Rachel SmythVirtual Atria with Personalised Electrophysiology for Atrial Fibrillation Therapy PlanningDevelopment of functional 3D eccrine sweat gland model3D Photoelectrochemical Imaging in Porous Light-Addressable StructuresThe regulation of mechanosensing in healthy and atherosclerotic VSMCInvestigating the cardiomyocyte rigidity sensing mechanism with micro patterned surfaces and nanopilIntermediate basic science research fellowship - GRANT TRANSFER
Labcorp
Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
React4life
Queen Mary's Centre for Predictive in vitro Models hosted a fastic afternoon of science and bioengineering at the UK organ-on-a-chip Annual Symposium. The event was attended by nearly 300 people, including 100 online, with representatives from academia, industry, Government, charities and other stakeholders. There were flash talks from four talented Early Career ... [more]
Recent discoveries have shown that cells in the heart are guided by the stiffness of their environment in a process, called mechanosensing. This influences the way they behave and function. Importantly, the stiffness of the heart changes in disease, however, it is still unclear how this contributes to the development ... [more]
Professor Thomas Iskratsch, Professor in Cardiovascular Mechanobiology and Bioengineering, has been awarded a highly coveted Programme Grant of £1.2 million from the British Heart Foundation (BHF). This significant funding will support groundbreaking research into how mechanical forces contribute to cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Professor Iskratsch's research aims ... [more]
A team of bioengineers led by Professor Hazel Screen have been awarded a £7 million grant to establish an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies. Queen Mary University of London is one of sixty-five universities chosen to receive funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research ... [more]
