PhD Research Studentships

Development of a Novel Heart-on-Chip device to investigate mechanical memory as factor in heart failure

Supervisor: Thomas ISKRATSCH
Apply by:28 January 2026
Start in:September (Semester 1)

Description

 
Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of death in the UK. New therapies are urgently needed but their development has been hindered by the still limited understanding of the biological basis. During cardiac disease, the extracellular matrix, surrounding and anchoring the cells, changes in composition and becomes stiffer. Cardiomyocytes, the contractile cells in the heart respond to the stiffening by changing. their phenotype and function. We have previously identified a mechanism of stiffness sensing at the cell-matrix adhesion sites through the mechanosensitive protein talin (e.g. Pandey et all, Developmental Cell, 2018; Hawkes et al, Phil Trans R Soc B, 2022). We have additionally identified a mechanism how the mechanical changes to talin are transduced downstream to affect the cell phenotype (Marhuenda et al, Science Advances, 2025). 

 
Importantly, our data indicated that this could lead to a novel form of mechanical memory, i.e. where changes to talin binding partners can give rise to long-lasting force independent changes in mechanosignalling. Accordingly, our central hypothesis is that such mechanical memory in response to perturbed mechanical signalling in heart disease can lead to persistent abnormalities (such as hypertrophic and poorly functioning cardiomyocytes) even after correction of the initial defect (e.g. after treatment of fibrosis as a strategy to treat heart failure).

 
This project will explore the regulation of mechanical memory, using advanced in vitro models. Especially, we have set up a micro-fabricated grooves for cardiomyocyte cultures and hydrogels with tunable stiffness (i.e. the stiffness can be dynamically increased or decreased), which the successful candidate will combine here to a novel Heart-on-chip device to investigate cardiomyocyte mechanical memory and its role in heart disease.
The PhD candidate will join a well funded interdisciplinary research group (Prof Thomas Iskratsch) of biomedical engineers, cardiovascular biologists and cell biologists. The project can be tuned to the candidates’ skills and interest, but the candidate should have previous experience and interest in one or more of the following areas:
 
• cardiovascular biology
 
• cell biology including cell culture and microscopy
 
• organ-on-chip technologies
 
• microfabrication
 
• mechanobiology

 
The candidate will have access to state-of-the-art equipment including organ-chip and microfabrication equipment, super-resolution microscopes and mechanical stimulation and characterisation equipment. The output will be of strong translational significance through identifying targets to manipulate the (pathological) mechanosignalling for therapeutic intervention of heart failure, a disease with extreme burden on individuals and the society and no effective treatment.

Funding

Funded by: China Scholarship Council
Candidate will need to secure a CSC scholarship.
Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.

Eligibility

  • The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
  • If English is not your first language, you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of minimum score of 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking).
  • Candidates are expected to start in September (Semester 1).

Contact

For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Thomas ISKRATSCH.

Apply

Start an application for this studentship and for entry onto the PhD FT Medical Engineering full-time programme (Semester 1 / September start):

Apply Now »

Please be sure to quote the reference "SEMS-PHD-695" to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.

Keywords:Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Cardiology