Dr Stefaan Verbruggen
PhD Biomedical Engineering
Lecturer in Bioengineering
CPM Lead for International Engagement
School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Mechanobiology, Computational Modelling, Bone Biomechanics, Cancer, Development, Metastasis
Underpinning Bioengineering, Cancer Models, Musculoskeletal Models
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 Models
2023

Asbai-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.2023.107381
Sutton MM, Duffy MP,
Verbruggen SW and Jacobs CR (2023).
Osteoclastogenesis requires primary cilia disassembly and can be inhibited by promoting primary cilia formation pharmacologically. Cells Tissues Organs 10.1159/000531098
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. Advanced Science 10.1002/advs.2023058422021

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 of The United States of America vol. 118, (25)
10.1073/pnas.2023999118
Verbruggen 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. 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).
Altered biomechanical stimulation of the developing hip joint in presence of hip dysplasia risk factors. Journal of Biomechanics vol. 78, 1-9.
10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.07.016
Verbruggen 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. Journal of The Royal Society Interface vol. 15, (138)
10.1098/rsif.2017.05932017
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.01715882016

Giorgi M,
Verbruggen SW and Lacroix D (2016).
In silico bone mechanobiology: modeling a multifaceted biological system. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Systems Biology and Medicine vol. 8, (6) 485-505.
10.1002/wsbm.1356
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2016).
Mechanisms of osteocyte stimulation in osteoporosis. Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials vol. 62, 158-168.
10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.05.004
Verbruggen SW, Loo JHW, Hayat TTA, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2016).
Modeling the biomechanics of fetal movements. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology vol. 15, (4) 995-1004.
10.1007/s10237-015-0738-12015

Vaughan TJ, Mullen CA,
Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2015).
Bone cell mechanosensation of fluid flow stimulation: a fluid–structure interaction model characterising the role integrin attachments and primary cilia. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology vol. 14, (4) 703-718.
10.1007/s10237-014-0631-3
Verbruggen SW, Mc Garrigle MJ, Haugh MG, Voisin MC and McNamara LM (2015).
Altered mechanical environment of bone cells in an animal model of short- and long-term osteoporosis. Biophysical Journal vol. 108, (7) 1587-1598.
10.1016/j.bpj.2015.02.0312014
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2014).
Fluid flow in the osteocyte mechanical environment: A fluid-structure interaction approach. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology vol. 13, (1) 85-97.
10.1007/s10237-013-0487-y2013

Vaughan TJ,
Verbruggen SW and Mcnamara LM (2013).
Are all osteocytes equal? Multiscale modelling of cortical bone to characterise the mechanical stimulation of osteocytes. International Journal For Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering vol. 29, (12) 1361-1372.
10.1002/cnm.25782012
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2012).
Strain amplification in bone mechanobiology: A computational investigation of the in vivo mechanics of osteocytes. Journal of The Royal Society Interface vol. 9, (75) 2735-2744.
10.1098/rsif.2012.0286
Grants

Grants of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models
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)
Summary