Principal Investigator: Professor Thomas H. Barker
Department of Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering & School of Medicine
University of Virginia
the matrix biology and engineering lab
The Extracellular Matrix (ECM) of tissues constitutes both the structural and mechanical support for cells, but recently we've learned it is much, much more...
Cells both generate and sense forces, establishing a complex feedback loop that ensures mechanical homeostasis between the cell and its microenvironment.
What happens when this delicate balance is disrupted?
what we do
Novel Regulators of Cell Mechanotransduction
The quiet influence of Thy-1
Thy-1, and perhaps numerous GPI-linked, integrin binding membrane proteins, have tremendous potential to alter how cells sense and respond to their mechanical environment.
Hijacking the Cell's Mechanotransduction Machinery
Finding the leverage point
A host of intracellular signaling molecules and transcription factors help realize the cell's intended responses to the mechanical microenvironment.
Hey, don't forget the Matrix
Fibronectin is our hyper-elastic friend
Fibronectin and many other ECM proteins exhibit significant molecular deformation under force. Do these deformations drive meaningful altered interactions with cells?
Time is not on our side
The incongruity between acute mechanotransduction and chronic disease progression
How mechanotransduction within cells and the matrix drive lasting changes in tissue remodeling are incompletely understood.
the motley crew
Countless hours, poor pay, and an absent-minded Principal Investigator all qualify these guys as heroes & lab rats!
Research Scientist
Jagath's research focuses on mapping of mechanically-triggered cryptic epitopes, antibody development and production of potential therapeutics.
Research Scientist
Ping is focused on endogenous cis-acting integrin regulators that establish stromal cell programming through aberrant mechanotransduction.
NRSA (F32) Postdoctoral Fellow, K99/R00 MOSAIC Fellow
Dan is investigating the roles innate immunity and cytokine signaling play in contributing to the onset of fibrosis.
5th Year PhD Candidate, Biotechnology Training Grant Fellow
Drew's PhD research is focused on identifying genomic mechanosensors in stiffness-driven diseases like fibrosis
5th Year PhD Candidate,
Cancer Training Grant Fellow, NIH F99/K00 Fellow
Grace's PhD research is focused on the role of lung draining lymph node fibrotic remodeling in interstitial lung disease.
Alum
Ph.D. & Postdoc (PD)
Dr. Sarah Stabenfeldt (PD '07-'10)- Arizona State University
Dr. Ashley Brown (PhD & PD '06-'15) - North Carolina State University
Dr. Allyson Soon (PhD '06-'12) - Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine
Dr. Rodney Averett (PD '07-'10) - University of Georgia
Dr. Kelly Clause (PD '07-'10) - RayBiotech, Inc
Dr. Lizhi Cao (PhD '08-'14)- Palleon Pharmaceuticals
Alum
Ph.D. & Postdoc (PD)
Dr. Marilyn Markowski (PhD '09-'13) - Stryker
Dr. Vincent Fiore (PhD '08-'14) - Boehringer Ingelheim
Dr. Alison Douglas (PhD '10-'15) -Bristol Myers Squibb
Dr. Anton Bryksin (PD '12-'13; SS '15-'16) - Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Michelle Gaines (PD '15-'16)- Spelman College
Dr. Haylee Bachman (PhD '12-'17) - Lonza Corp.
Alum
Ph.D. & Postdoc (PD)
Dr. Vicky Stefanelli (PhD '12-'18) - Integra LifeSciences
Dr. Dwight M. Chambers (PhD '12-'18) - Emory School of Medicine
Dr. John Nicosia (PhD '13-'19) - Biolocity
Dr. Riley Hannan (PhD '16-'20) - Univ. of Virginia
Dr. Leandro Moretti (PhD '15-'21) - Bristol Myers Squibb (MA)
Dr. Wei Li (PD '15-'21) - Ray Biotech Life
Dr. Vinecnt Yeh (SS '15-'21) - Bristol Myers Squibb (CA)
The Cautiously optimistic leader
Lab
We're all just trying to find happiness
The folks in my lab remind me that we are each on a journey. Sometimes we have detours and sometimes we find ourselves unintentionally in the fast lane. They help me on my journey every day and I hope, in return, I help them find their way too.
Family
My own "regenerative medicine" experiment
In collaboration with Dr. Shannon Barker, I am attempting to grow two small organisms that share remarkable similarities to the collaborative team at both the molecular and macroscopic scale.
Friends
The small band of humans that tolerate me
Thankfully a handfull of individuals put up with me and for that I'm very grateful. These folks share a common love for food, travel, and family
Food
Yeah, major driver in my life
I have a healthy love for cooking and eating. I like to cook and eat just about anywhere I am. Eating is good and I particularly like eating at places that take you someplace you've never been before.
Our funding
The 3 "P"s of great progress: patience, perseverance, and penny
NIH Director's Transformative Research Award
Mechanosensors that Detect and Treat Lung Fibrosis
Department of Defense
Development of platelet-like particles for augmentation of hemostasis
National Institutes of Health (NHLBI)
Targeting integrin signaling and mechanotransduction in Pulmonary Fibrosis
National Institutes of Health (NHLBI)
Augmenting hemostasis with platelet-like particles
National Science Foundation
5 NSF GRP Fellows
2 Graduate Trainees
National Institutes of Health
5 Postdoc & Fellow-to-Faculty Fellowships
8 Predoctoral MD/PhD & PhD Fellows & Trainees
American Heart Association
2 Postdoc & Predoctoral Fellows
What's Happening
Look how good we are :)