Computer Simulations Suggest New Pathways for Cancer Progression
By Mark Dwortzan The results of this study suggest that mechanical property changes...
Micah Dembo, Ph.D.
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Cellular and Subcellular Mechanics Laboratory
Ph.D., Biomathematics, Cornell University
B.S., Mathematics, Allegheny College
Phone: (617) 353-1671; Fax: (617) 353-6766
Email: mxd@bu.edu
Office: ERB 223
Research Interests
Statistical mechanics in biological systems; cellular information processing and signal transduction; thermodynamics and mechanics of cell adhesion; biophysics of cell deformation, active motility.
Current Research
Dr. Dembo’s research is in the area of cellular mechanics. This involves the characterization of the mechanical properties of living cells, the elucidation of the molecular basis of these properties and the exploitation of these properties to design systems, processes and devices for medical and industrial applications. Currently he is focusing on questions relating to the mechanics and control of the actin cytoskeleton. His work includes measurement of the forces and stresses produced by individual cells during active locomotion, finite element modeling of cytokinesis, finite element modeling of amoeboid locomotion, the role of the cytoskeleton in oncogenic transformation.
Selected Recent Publications
Herant, M., W. Marganski , M. Dembo “The mechanics of Neutrophils: Synthetic modeling of three experiments” Biophysical Journal 84: 3389-3 (2003)
Munevar, S., Y-L. Wang, M. Dembo “Distinct roles of frontal and rear cell-substrate adhesions in fibroblast migration” Molecular Biology of the Cell 12: 3947-3954 (2001)
Drury, J. L., M. Dembo “Aspiration of human neutrophils: Effects of shear thinning and cortical dissipation” Biophysical Journal 81: 3166-3177 (2001)
Munevar, S., Y-L. Wang, M. Dembo “Traction force microscopy of migrating normal and H-ras transformed 3T3 fibroblasts” Biophysical Journal 80: 1744-1757 (2001)
Dembo, M., Y-L. Wang “Stresses at the cell-to-substrate interface during locomotion of fibroblasts” Biophysical Journal 76: 2307-2316 (1999)
Oliver, T., M. Dembo, K. Jacobson “Separation of propulsive and adhesive traction stresses in locomoting keratocytes” Journal of Cell Biology 145: 589-604 (1999)