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
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!
Lab Manager
Mary helps keep us pointed in the right direction and anchors down the fort as our Lab Manager. Her research focuses on protein production and animal models of disease.
Research Scientist
Jagath brings extensive experience in antibody development based on his time working in the Antibody Engineering and Development Core facility. His research focuses on antibody production as potential therapeutics.
Senior Scientist
Vincent's research focuses on endogenous heterogeneity in fibroblast mechanotransduction and new biotechnology development hijacking normal mechanotransduction.
Postdoctoral Fellow (Joint with Matt Torres @ GA Tech)
Wei's research focused on fibronectin mechanics in the past and currently explores mechanisms of ECM memory.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ping is focused on further exploring Thy-1's role in directing integrin signaling and mechanotransduction.
NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow
Dan is investigating the roles innate immunity and cytokine signaling play in contributing to the onset of fibrosis.
4th Year PhD Student
Biomedical Engineering Program
Leandro is using directed evolution and antibody engineering to improve a potential fibrosis theranostic we developed in the lab.
4th Year PhD Student
Molecular and Cellular Basis of Disease (MCBD) PhD Program
Riley is studying the potential for mechanical cues and cytokine signaling to impact pericyte participation in tissue regeneration and fibrosis.
1st Year PhD Student BTP Training Grant Predoctoral Fellow
Drew's PhD research will be focused on identifying mechanosensors for application in stiffness-driven diseases like fibrosis
1st Year PhD Student
Cancer Training Grant Predoctoral Fellow
Grace's PhD research is to be decided. Currently she is studying a new family of integrin adaptor proteins that set the mechanotransductive phenotypes of cells.
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
Alum
Ph.D. & Postdoc (PD)
Dr. Lizhi Cao (PhD '08-'14)- Palleon Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Marilyn Markowski (PhD '09-'13) - PharmaJet
Dr. Vincent Fiore (PhD '08-'14) - Rockefeller University
Dr. Alison Douglas (PhD '10-'15) -Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute
Dr. Anton Bryksin (PD '12-'13) - Georgia Institute of Technology
Alum
Ph.D. & Postdoc (PD)
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
Dr. John Nicosia (PhD '13-'19) - Emory University
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
