Dr Stefaan Verbruggen
Lecturer in Bioengineering
CPM Lead for International Engagement and Social Media
School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Mechanobiology, Computational Modelling, Bone Biomechanics, Cancer, Development, Metastasis
Interests
Dr Verbruggen's research focuses on the musculoskeletal system and metastatic cancer, particularly mechanobiology and resulting cross-talk between cells. Dr Verbruggen also has significant experience in complex multi-scale and multi-physics modelling, and is interested in collaborating to model mechanical microenvironments on in vitro microfluidics and chip devices.Publications
Publications of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models2024
Morley EJ, Brockett CL and Verbruggen SW (2024). Analytical and computational studies predict negligible risk of cell death from eddy generation off flat surfaces in cell culture flow systems. Frontiers Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology vol. 12, 1340653-1340653. 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1340653Verbruggen SW, Freeman CL and Freeman FE (2024). Utilizing 3D Models to Unravel the Dynamics of Myeloma Plasma Cells’ Escape from the Bone Marrow Microenvironment. Mdpi Cancers vol. 16, (5) 10.3390/cancers16050889Verbruggen SW (2024). Role of the osteocyte in bone metastasis – The importance of networking. Elsevier Journal of Bone Oncology vol. 44, 10.1016/j.jbo.2024.1005262023
Verbruggen SW, Nolan J, Duffy MP, Pearce OMT, Jacobs CR and Knight MM (2023). A Novel Primary Cilium‐Mediated Mechanism Through which Osteocytes Regulate Metastatic Behavior of Both Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells. Wiley Advanced Science vol. 11, (2) 2305842-2305842. 10.1002/advs.202305842Verbruggen SW, Sittichokechaiwut A and Reilly GC (2023). Osteocytes and Primary Cilia. Springer Current Osteoporosis Reports 10.1007/s11914-023-00819-1Asbai-Ghoudan R, Nasello G, Pérez MÁ, Verbruggen SW, Ruiz de Galarreta S and Rodriguez-Florez N (2023). In silico assessment of the bone regeneration potential of complex porous scaffolds. Elsevier Computers in Biology and Medicine vol. 165, 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107381Sutton MM, Duffy MP, Verbruggen SW and Jacobs CR (2023). Osteoclastogenesis Requires Primary Cilia Disassembly and Can Be Inhibited by Promoting Primary Cilia Formation Pharmacologically. Karger Publishers Cells Tissues Organs vol. 213, (3) 235-244. 10.1159/000531098Nolan J, Pearce OMT, Screen HRC, Knight MM and Verbruggen SW (2023). Organ-on-a-Chip and Microfluidic Platforms for Oncology in the UK. Mdpi Cancers vol. 15, (3) 10.3390/cancers150306352021
Schurman CA, Verbruggen SW and Alliston T (2021). Disrupted osteocyte connectivity and pericellular fluid flow in bone with aging and defective TGF-β signaling. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America vol. 118, (25) e2023999118-e2023999118. 10.1073/pnas.2023999118Verbruggen SW, Thompson CL, Duffy MP, Lunetto S, Nolan J, Pearce OMT, Jacobs CR and Knight MM (2021). Mechanical Stimulation Modulates Osteocyte Regulation of Cancer Cell Phenotype. Mdpi Cancers vol. 13, (12) 10.3390/cancers131229062018
Verbruggen SW, Kainz B, Shelmerdine SC, Arthurs OJ, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2018). European Society of Biomechanics S.M. Perren Award 2018: Altered biomechanical stimulation of the developing hip joint in presence of hip dysplasia risk factors. Elsevier Journal of Biomechanics vol. 78, 1-9. 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.07.016Verbruggen SW, Kainz B, Shelmerdine SC, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Arthurs OJ, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2018). Stresses and strains on the human fetal skeleton during development. The Royal Society Journal of The Royal Society Interface vol. 15, (138) 10.1098/rsif.2017.0593Dolan EB, Verbruggen SW and Rolfe RA (2018). Techniques for studying mechanobiology. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease 10.1016/B978-0-12-812952-4.00001-5Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2018). Bone mechanobiology in health and disease. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease 10.1016/B978-0-12-812952-4.00006-4Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2018). Chapter 6 Bone mechanobiology in health and disease. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease Elsevier 10.1016/b978-0-12-812952-4.00006-4Dolan EB, Verbruggen SW and Rolfe RA (2018). Chapter 1 Techniques for studying mechanobiology. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease Elsevier 10.1016/b978-0-12-812952-4.00001-52017
Verbruggen SW, Oyen ML, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2017). Function and failure of the fetal membrane: Modelling the mechanics of the chorion and amnion. Plos One vol. 12, (3) e0171588-e0171588. 10.1371/journal.pone.0171588Verbruggen SW and Nowlan NC (2017). Ontogeny of the Human Pelvis. Wiley The Anatomical Record vol. 300, (4) 643-652. 10.1002/ar.235412016
Giorgi M, Verbruggen SW and Lacroix D (2016). In silico bone mechanobiology: modeling a multifaceted biological system. Wiley Wires Mechanisms of Disease vol. 8, (6) 485-505. 10.1002/wsbm.1356Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2016). Mechanisms of osteocyte stimulation in osteoporosis. Elsevier Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials vol. 62, 158-168. 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.05.0042015
Verbruggen SW, Loo JHW, Hayat TTA, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2015). Modeling the biomechanics of fetal movements. Springer Nature Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology vol. 15, (4) 995-1004. 10.1007/s10237-015-0738-1Verbruggen SW, Garrigle MJM, Haugh MG, Voisin MC and McNamara LM (2015). Altered Mechanical Environment of Bone Cells in an Animal Model of Short- and Long-Term Osteoporosis. Elsevier Biophysical Journal vol. 108, (7) 1587-1598. 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.02.0312014
Vaughan TJ, Mullen CA, Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2014). Bone cell mechanosensation of fluid flow stimulation: a fluid–structure interaction model characterising the role integrin attachments and primary cilia. Springer Nature Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology vol. 14, (4) 703-718. 10.1007/s10237-014-0631-32013
Vaughan TJ, Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2013). Are all osteocytes equal? Multiscale modelling of cortical bone to characterise the mechanical stimulation of osteocytes. Wiley International Journal For Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering vol. 29, (12) 1361-1372. 10.1002/cnm.2578Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2013). Fluid flow in the osteocyte mechanical environment: a fluid–structure interaction approach. Springer Nature Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology vol. 13, (1) 85-97. 10.1007/s10237-013-0487-y2012
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2012). Strain amplification in bone mechanobiology: a computational investigation of the in vivo mechanics of osteocytes. The Royal Society Journal of The Royal Society Interface vol. 9, (75) 2735-2744. 10.1098/rsif.2012.0286Grants
Preterm birth mechanisms in a high HIV prevalence setting in rural ZimbabwePrendergast A, Chowdhury T, Verbruggen S, Smuk M, Robertson R and Donos NIKOLAOS
£1,283,831 Medical Research Council (01-05-2024 - 30-04-2027)
Microbiome-Bone ChipVerbruggen S, Krishna Kumar R and Nolan J
£117,510 UK Research and Innovation (31-03-2024 - 30-03-2025)
Mechanobiology of METAstatic and DORMant cancer cells in bone marrow lesions (META-DORM)Knight MM and Verbruggen S
£137,844 European Research Council (Marie Skodowska-Curie Global Research Fellowship) (01-01-2018 - 30-08-2020)