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                  May the force be with you

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                                                      Piezo1 in mechanically-treated cancer cell

Research Theme

Cells and tissues constantly experience mechanical forces from within and outside. These mechanical forces in the form of tension, compression and shear stress affect a wide variety of body processes right from embryo development to disease development later in life. Despite the progress, one of the important and yet poorly understood questions is how mechanical forces influence physiological and pathophysiological processes at the cellular and tissue level. 

Our Lab focuses on two broad research themes: cancer mechanobiology and stem cell mechano-biology.

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Mechano-induced cancer cell killing

Mechano-induced cancer cell apoptosis

Cancer Mechanobiology

The research in cancer mechanobiology focuses on studying and recapitulating the submicron scale architecture of cancerous tissues using custom-made microfluidic/biomaterial platforms. Recently the field has learnt that cancer cells are mechanically vulnerable and undergo apoptosis when subjected to physiologically relevant mechanical stresses. 

Thus, our next objective is to investigate the effect of mechanical forces on cancer cells grown on the platforms mimicking in vivo microenvironment. The insight gained will be used for optimization of mechanical forces to maximize cancer cell killing and development of therapeutic strategies and technologies for the clinical treatment. In particular, our lab is interested in oral cancer which is the second most prevalent cancer in India.

The research in stem cell mechanobiology focuses on studying the effect of mechanical forces on stem cell differentiation. Such studies will guide the systematic optimization of mechanical forces to maximize the yield of differentiated cells towards a desired tissue lineage and to develop the stem cell-based therapies for clinical treatment of chronic wound healing.

Stem cell mechanobiology

Mechano-induced cancer cell killing

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We look for candidates at different levels. Please send me an email with application documents including brief description of your research experience, interests and CV with names and contact details of 2-3 references.

PhD aspirant, please apply through IISc admission portal.

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