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
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
Dr. Marilyn Markowski (PhD '09-'13) - Stryker
Alum
Ph.D. & Postdoc (PD)
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.
Dr. Vicky Stefanelli (PhD '12-'18) - Integra LifeSciences
Dr. Dwight M. Chambers (PhD '12-'18) - Emory School of Medicine
Alum
Ph.D. & Postdoc (PD)
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. Vincent Yeh (SS '15-'21) - Bristol Myers Squibb (CA)
Dr. Grace Bingham (PhD '18-'23) - Harvard University
Dr. Drew Miller ('18-'24) -
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 universe
Links to resources, societies, and random things
Lab Protocols/Research Images
Quartzy
American Society for Matrix Biology
American Thoracic Society
TERMIS
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society
Society for Biomaterials
Connect With Us
We're always looking for eager, ambitious students, postdocs, and scientists
Just click the EMAIL icon below to inquire
PubMed
Google Scholar
Research Gate
LinkedIn
Email
BME Department
University of Virginia
MR5, Rm 1225
415 Lane Rd.
Charlottesville, VA 22904
(434) 924-1729
