Yu-li Wang has led the field in determining how cells input and output mechanical signals.  His group, after developing a new method for micropatterning hydrogels for traction force microscopy, discovered the strong dependence of focal adhesions and associated traction forces on cell spreading distance and focal adhesion size (see figure).  Phil LeDuc examines how cells respond to applied extracellular forces including shear flow and stretching, both individually and collectively.  He has also identified membrane proteins that are responsible for transmitting forces from outside the cell to inside.  

Kerem Pekkan and James Antaki have been investigating cellular mechanics of the cardiovascular system.  Kerem Pekkan has been modeling the deformation of cells lining the blood vessels under blood flow induced shear stress (see figure).  In addition, both Pekkan and Antaki are using fast, three dimensional imaging to study the deformation of red blood cells within the vasculature.  Their work provides valuable insight into the impact of blood flow on cell shape during embryonic development and cardiovascular diseases, and in engineered devices.  These studies also provide unique insight into the interactions of non-adherent cellular systems as well as fluid flow-induced cell deformation.  The group of Adam Feinberg investigates cardiac and skeletal muscle mechanics and develops engineered cardiac myocytes and tissues.  The products may be used either for tissue repair or as in vitro models for pharmacological screening.

At the molecular level, Kris Dahl measures thermodynamic and mechanical properties of individual structural proteins, such as lamin tail domains, which are important in cellular function, cancer and aging.  These studies complement the work of Todd Przybycien and Robert Tiltonwho study thermodynamics of protein stability and interfacial properties.  The research of Maumita Mandal focuses on the mechanics of nucleic acids using such elegant single molecular techniques as laser tweezers.