Skip to main content
Browse by:
GROUP

BioE Seminar: Biophysical regulation of macrophages in tissue repair

Wendy Liu, PhD
Thursday, January 28, 2021
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Wendy Liu, PhD, Associate Professor, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California-Irvine

Macrophages are versatile and powerful regulators of the immune system and are key regulators of homeostasis, pathogen defense, wound healing and tissue repair. They are also involved many chronic inflammatory diseases and the host response to biomaterial implants. Our laboratory combines microscale technologies with biomaterials engineering to control the physical and chemical properties of the cellular microenvironment, and study their roles in regulating macrophage function. In this talk, I will describe how these tools have helped us understand how biophysical cues such as material geometry and stiffness regulate macrophage inflammation versus healing functions. Furthermore, we have recently identified several key molecules that mediate mechanotransduction in macrophages, offering the potential to target mechanosensitive signaling pathways and modulate immune function. Ultimately, our goal is to harness the immune system to improve tissue repair and treat disease.

Email Michael Humphreys (michael.humphreys@duke.edu) for Zoom information.