Dr Thomas Iskratsch
Dipl.-Ing. (Equiv. to MSc/MEng), PhD

Research Group News

September 2020

QM hosts new Organ-on-a-chip Research symposia 22 September 2020 QMUL has launched a new e-symposia series with research presentations related to organ-on-a-chip and other predictive in vitro models. The symposia are part of the UK Organ-on-a-chip Technologies Network which is funded via the Technology Touching Life scheme and directed by Prof Hazel Screen and Prof Martin Knight, both bioengineers ... [more]

August 2020

Thomas Iskratsch is featured in the current issue of the Journal of Cell Science as part of the "Cell Scientist to Watch" series. 3 August 2020 Thomas Iskratsch is featured in the current issue of Journal of Cell Science as part of the "Cell Scientist to Watch" series. The series looks at "cell biologists who are in the earlier stages of their careers, and who [the Journal of Cell Science think] are making important contributions to ... [more]

July 2020

Successful Launch of QMUL Centre for Predictive in vitro Models 22 July 2020 The Centre for Predictive in vitro Models (CPM) was officially launched on Wednesday 22nd with an successful virtual symposium. More than 330 registrated attendees joined in to celebrate the occasion, listening to talks and participating in stimulating discussions. Introductory words from the vice principal for the faculty of Science and Engineering, ... [more]

May 2020

New state-of-the-art microscope to support research in the School of Engineering and Materials Science 20 May 2020 Queen Mary underlined its strong commitment to the ongoing research in SEMS by investing into a £375K state-of-the-art super-resolution spinning disc microscope. Microscopy imaging approaches have long been a major research strength within the school, facilitating new collaborative links and supporting significant research funding and outputs in leading journals. The ... [more]

PDRA position available in the lab 18 May 2020 Applications are invited for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Assistant to investigate mechanical sensing in vascular smooth muscle cells and its involvement in cardiovascular disease. This BHF-funded project follows up on our previous data and will use state of the art mechanobiology and imaging approaches to investigate how vascular smooth muscle ... [more]

Queen Mary + Emulate Organs-on-Chips Centre supports COVID-19 initiative 6 May 2020 The Queen Mary + Emulate Organs-on-Chips Centre is supporting a new initiative to use predictive in vitro models, also known as organ-chips, in the fight against COVID-19. Emulate, Inc is participating in the Organs-on-Chips against COVID-19 initiative (#OoCovid) and donating a set of Organ-Chips to the UK Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies Network which ... [more]

February 2020

First outcome of our 'Hacking Hearts' art and science outreach collaboration with Central Saint Martins released online 19 February 2020 Central Saint Martins published a first story about the outcome or our art and science collaboration. This fast-paced project saw postgraduate students from across disciplines hack the research of our inaugural Scientists in Residence over the course of a week. You can read here: https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/... [more]

October 2019

SEMS at 'Hacking Hearts' at Central Saint Martins 21 October 2019 We're excited to be participating in 'Hacking Hearts' at Central St Martins in London. The event is a ‘Hackathon’, a week-long project re-imagining heart research artistically by Central St Martins Arts Students. Dr Thomas Iskratsch, with help of his group, will be Scientist in Residence. The workshop finishes with a ... [more]

September 2019

Success for SEMS Academics in 2019 Promotion Round 17 September 2019 Following the 2019 Promotion Round we are very pleased to announce that eleven members of staff from SEMS have been promoted. This is a fantastic achievement that demonstrates the quality of work undertaken by staff in the School. In particular congratulations to our three new Professors - Julien Gautrot, Steffi Krause ... [more]

March 2019

New paper out on using nanopatterning to investigate cardiomyocyte - extracellular matrix interactions! 18 March 2019 Congratulations to Will and Matt on this exciting proof of concept paper, using DNA origami nanoarrays for cardiomyocyte adhesion studies with single-molecule control

December 2018

New paper out from collaboration with the Lappalainen Lab! 6 December 2018 This study shows a surprising role for Calponin-3 in controlling proper contractility of the stress fiber network. Will Hawkes collaborated with the Lappalainen lab and performed nanopillar assays to measure the traction forces that are associated with stress fibers. He could indeed detect higher forces in the knockout cells, as ... [more]

October 2018

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs! 24 October 2018 Are you looking for a fully funded PhD studentship, post-doc or research assistant position on cardiomyocyte mechanosensing? We have currently openings on all levels! To apply go to: PDRA: https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/job.action?jobID=3766 RA: https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/job.action?jobID=3768 ... [more]

September 2018

Congratulations to Will for winning the best poster award 14 September 2018 Many congratulations to Will Hawkes for winning the best poster award at this years BBSRC LIDo retreat! Will presented his exciting research, combining e-beam lithography nanopatterning and DNA origami to investigate receptor ligand interactions and their role in mechanotransduction. [more]

April 2018

New animation from the British Heart Foundation shows how SEMS research into tiny tech is helping to treat heart failure 3 April 2018 Heart failure affects an estimated 920,000 people in the UK. It means that your heart can't pump blood as well as it should do. One of the most common causes of heart failure is a heart attack. After a heart attack the damaged heart muscle can become stiff. This means your ... [more]

January 2018

New Published Research: Cells in the heart sense stiffness by measuring contraction forces and resting tension simultaneously 26 January 2018 Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have identified a new mechanism in which adhesive structures within the cells of the heart sense stiffness through muscle contractions and resting tension at the same time. The study, published in Developmental Cell, further shows that the resting tension in the heart cells ... [more]

Cells in the heart sense stiffness by measuring contraction forces and resting tension simultaneously 26 January 2018 Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have identified a new mechanism in which adhesive structures within the cells of the heart sense stiffness through muscle contractions and resting tension at the same time. The study, published in Developmental Cell, further shows that the resting tension in the heart cells ... [more]