Prof Thomas Iskratsch

Thomas Iskratsch
PhD, Dipl.-Ing.

Professor of Cardiovascular Mechanobiology and Bioengineering
CPM Lead for Industrial Engagement

School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London

Research

Cardiovascular Mechanobiology, Mechanosensing, Cardiovascular Disease, Micro-/Nanopatterning, 3D models

Underpinning Bioengineering, Cardiovascular Models

Interests

Cells in the cardiovascular system react to the changing mechanical stimuli. This affects their behaviour and can trigger cardiovascular disease onset and progression. We are studying cellular mechanosensing in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells, in 2D and 3D in vitro models and using tools to apply or measure forces (AFM, nanoindentation, nanopillars, pressure stimulation), as well as super-resolution or high content imaging and automated image analysis. This allows us to dissect cellular pathways of mechanosignalling and identify novel therapeutic targets, or to develop improved drug testing platforms.

Publications

solid heart iconPublications of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models

2025

Role of the extracellular matrix in cardiac ageing
Prakash A, Smith PO, Iskratsch T
Nature Materials, Springer Science and Business Media Llc 
18-08-2025
Dysregulated SASS6 expression promotes increased ciliogenesis and cell invasion phenotypes
Hargreaves E, Collinson R, Jenks AD, Staszewski A, Tsalikis A, Bodoque R, Arias-Garcia M, Abdi Y et al.
Life Science Alliance, Life Science Alliance, Llc vol. 8 (10), e202402820-e202402820.  
18-08-2025
BS42 Mechanical imprinting of the talin interaction with DLC1 regulates RHOA activity and cardiomyocyte remodelling
Marhuenda E, Xanthis I, Smith PO, Prakash A, Kallem T, Pandey P, Samuel Wilson DG, Azad A et al.
British Cardiovascular Society Annual Conference, ‘The Risk Business, 2–4 June 2025
13-08-2025

2024

Biocooperative Regenerative Materials by Harnessing Blood-Clotting and Peptide Self-Assembly
Padilla-Lopategui S, Ligorio C, Bu W, Yin C, Laurenza D, Redondo C, Owen R, Sun H et al.
Advanced Materials vol. 36 (52) 
27-12-2024
Mechano-epigenetic regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype in atherosclerosis
Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T, Shanahan C
Atherosclerosis, Elsevier Bv vol. 395, 118395-118395.  
01-08-2024
Tunable electrospun scaffolds of polyacrylonitrile loaded with carbon nanotubes: from synthesis to biological applications
Fromager B, Cambedouzou J, Marhuenda E, Iskratsch T, Pinault M, Bakalara N, Cornu D
Chembiochem, Wiley vol. 25 (7) 
12-03-2024
Hypertensive Pressure Mechanosensing Alone Triggers Lipid Droplet Accumulation and Transdifferentiation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Foam Cells (Adv. Sci. 9/2024)
Swiatlowska P, Tipping W, Marhuenda E, Severi P, Fomin V, Yang Z, Xiao Q, Graham D et al.
Advanced Science, Wiley vol. 11 (9) 
01-03-2024
Sox9 Accelerates Vascular Aging by Regulating Extracellular Matrix Composition and Stiffness
Faleeva M, Ahmad S, Theofilatos K, Lynham S, Watson G, Whitehead M, Marhuenda E, Iskratsch T et al.
Circulation Research, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) vol. 134 (3), 307-324.  
02-02-2024
DysregulatedSASS6expression promotes increased ciliogenesis and cell invasion phenotypes
Hargreaves E, Jenks AD, Staszewski A, Tsalikis A, Bodoque R, Arias-Garcia M, Abdi Y, Al-Malki A et al.
In Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 
31-01-2024
Selective placement of functionalised DNA origami via thermal scanning probe lithography patterning
Zheng T, O’Neill C, Marshall JF, Iskratsch T, Palma M
Materials Advances, Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) vol. 5 (23), 9376-9382.  
01-01-2024

2023

Hypertensive Pressure Mechanosensing Alone Triggers Lipid Droplet Accumulation and Transdifferentiation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Foam Cells
Swiatlowska P, Tipping W, Marhuenda E, Severi P, Fomin V, Yang Z, Xiao Q, Graham D et al.
Advanced Science, Wiley vol. 11 (9) 
25-12-2023
Matrix-associated extracellular vesicles modulate smooth muscle cell adhesion and directionality by presenting collagen VI
Kapustin A, Tsakali SS, Whitehead M, Chennell G, Wu M-Y, Molenaar C, Kutikhin A, Chen Y et al.
In Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 
18-08-2023
Cardiomyocyte mechanical memory is regulated through the talin interactome and DLC1 dependent regulation of RhoA
Marhuenda E, Xanthis I, Pandey P, Azad A, Richter M, Pavolvic D, Gehmlich K, Faggian G et al.
In Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 
19-07-2023
Lem2 is essential for cardiac development by maintaining nuclear integrity
Ross JA, Arcos-Villacis N, Battey E, Boogerd C, Orellana CA, Marhuenda E, Swiatlowska P, Hodzic D et al.
Cardiovascular Research, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 119 (11), 2074-2088.  
17-04-2023
Photoelectrochemical imaging of single cardiomyocytes and monitoring of their action potentials through contact force manipulation of organoids
Jacques R, Zhou B, Marhuenda E, Gorecki J, Das A, Iskratsch T, Krause S
Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Elsevier Bv vol. 223, 115024-115024.  
01-03-2023
Myonuclear alterations associated with exercise are independent of age in humans
Battey E, Ross JA, Hoang A, Wilson DGS, Han Y, Levy Y, Pollock RD, Kalakoutis M et al.
The Journal of Physiology, Wiley vol. 603 (13), 3755-3775.  
30-01-2023
Cardiovascular Mechano-Epigenetics: Force-Dependent Regulation of Histone Modifications and Gene Regulation
Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T
Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 38 (2), 215-222.  
18-01-2023

2022

Regulation of cardiomyocyte adhesion and mechanosignalling through distinct nanoscale behaviour of integrin ligands mimicking healthy or fibrotic extracellular matrix
Hawkes W, Marhuenda E, Reynolds P, O'Neill C, Pandey P, Samuel Wilson DG, Freeley M, Huang D et al.
Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, The Royal Society vol. 377 (1864) 
03-10-2022
The role of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex in muscle cell mechanotransduction
Wilson DGS, Tinker A, Iskratsch T
Communications Biology, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 5 (1) 
27-09-2022
Myonuclear alterations associated with exercise are independent of age in humans
Battey E, Ross JA, Hoang A, Wilson DGS, Han Y, Levy Y, Pollock RD, Kalakoutis M et al.
In Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 
21-09-2022
Photoelectrochemical imaging of action potentials for single cardiomyocytes through contact force manipulation of organoids
Jacques R, Zhou B, Marhuenda E, Gorecki J, Das A, Iskratsch T, Krause S
In Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 
06-09-2022
Pressure and stiffness sensing together regulate vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switching
Swiatlowska P, Sit B, Feng Z, Marhuenda E, Xanthis I, Zingaro S, Ward M, Zhou X et al.
Science Advances, American Association For The Advancement of Science (Aaas) vol. 8 (15) 
15-04-2022
Regulation of Cardiomyocyte Adhesion and Mechanosignalling Through Distinct Nanoscale Behaviour of Integrin Ligands Mimicking Healthy or Fibrotic ECM
Hawkes W, Marhuenda E, Reynolds P, O’Neill C, Pandey P, Samuel Wilson DG, Freeley M, Huang D et al.
In Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 
13-03-2022
Lem2 is essential for cardiac development by maintaining nuclear integrity
Ross JA, Arcos-Villacis N, Battey E, Boogerd C, Marhuenda E, Hodzic D, Prin F, Mohun T et al.
In Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 
10-02-2022
Factoring in the force: A novel role for eIF6
Wilson DGS, Iskratsch T
Journal of Cell Biology, Rockefeller University Press vol. 221 (2) 
21-01-2022

2021

Cardiovascular mechanobiology—a Special Issue to look at the state of the art and the newest insights into the role of mechanical forces in cardiovascular development, physiology and disease
Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 13 (5), 575-577.  
11-09-2021
Tools for studying and modulating (cardiac muscle) cell mechanics and mechanosensing across the scales
Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 13 (5), 611-623.  
05-09-2021
Announcing the call for the Special Issue on “Cardiovascular mechanobiology—a special issue to look at the state of the art and the newest insights into the role of mechanical forces in cardiovascular development, physiology, and disease”
Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 13 (3), 307-308.  
03-05-2021
Glioma stem cells invasive phenotype at optimal stiffness is driven by MGAT5 dependent mechanosensing
Marhuenda E, Fabre C, Zhang C, Martin-Fernandez M, Iskratsch T, Saleh A, Bauchet L, Cambedouzou J et al.
Journal of Experimental &Amp; Clinical Cancer Research, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 40 (1) 
24-04-2021

2020

Cell scientist to watch – Thomas Iskratsch

Journal of Cell Science, The Company of Biologists vol. 133 (15) 
01-08-2020
Mix and (mis-)match – The mechanosensing machinery in the changing environment of the developing, healthy adult and diseased heart
Ward M, Iskratsch T
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta (Bba) - Molecular Cell Research, Elsevier Bv vol. 1867 (3), 118436-118436.  
01-03-2020
Contractile myosin rings and cofilin-mediated actin disassembly orchestrate ECM nanotopography sensing
Di Cio S, Iskratsch T, Connelly JT, Gautrot JE
Biomaterials, Elsevier Bv vol. 232, 119683-119683.  
01-02-2020

2019

Tumor Angiogenesis Is Differentially Regulated by Phosphorylation of Endothelial Cell Focal Adhesion Kinase Tyrosines-397 and -861
Pedrosa A-R, Bodrug N, Gomez-Escudero J, Carter EP, Reynolds LE, Georgiou PN, Fernandez I, Lees DM et al.
Cancer Research, American Association For Cancer Research (Aacr) vol. 79 (17), 4371-4386.  
01-09-2019
Lamin-A Mechano-Protects the Heart
Xanthis I, Iskratsch T
Developmental Cell, Elsevier Bv vol. 49 (6), 821-822.  
01-06-2019
Costameres, dense plaques and podosomes: the cell matrix adhesions in cardiovascular mechanosensing
Sit B, Gutmann D, Iskratsch T
Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 40 (2), 197-209.  
01-06-2019
Probing the nanoscale organisation and multivalency of cell surface receptors: DNA origami nanoarrays for cellular studies with single-molecule control
Hawkes W, Huang D, Reynolds P, Hammond L, Ward M, Gadegaard N, Marshall JF, Iskratsch T et al.
Faraday Discussions, Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) vol. 219, 203-219.  
01-01-2019

2018

Calponin-3 is critical for coordinated contractility of actin stress fibers
Ciuba K, Hawkes W, Tojkander S, Kogan K, Engel U, Iskratsch T, Lappalainen P
Scientific Reports, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 8 (1) 
05-12-2018
Cardiomyocytes Sense Matrix Rigidity through a Combination of Muscle and Non-muscle Myosin Contractions
Pandey P, Hawkes W, Hu J, Megone WV, Gautrot J, Anilkumar N, Zhang M, Hirvonen L et al.
Developmental Cell, Elsevier Bv vol. 44 (3), 326-336.e3.  
01-02-2018
Similar Effects of Humoral or Mechanical Stress on Cell-Cell Contacts in Cultured Cardiomyocytes
Koldyka O, Pandey P, Iskratsch T, Ehler E
 
01-02-2018

2017

Polymer fiber-based models of connective tissue repair and healing
Lee NM, Erisken C, Iskratsch T, Sheetz M, Levine WN, Lu HH
Biomaterials, Elsevier Bv vol. 112, 303-312.  
01-01-2017
Alterations in cardiac cytoarchitecture due to cellular stress in dilated cardiomyopathy
Pluess M, Koldyka O, Iskratsch T, Bennett P, Dwyer J, Pandey P, dos Remedios C, Ehler E
 
01-01-2017

2016

α-Actinin links extracellular matrix rigidity-sensing contractile units with periodic cell-edge retractions
Meacci G, Wolfenson H, Liu S, Stachowiak MR, Iskratsch T, Mathur A, Ghassemi S, Gauthier N et al.
Molecular Biology of The Cell, American Society For Cell Biology (Ascb) vol. 27 (22), 3471-3479.  
07-11-2016
Actin polymerization‐dependent activation of Cas‐L promotes immunological synapse stability
Santos LC, Blair DA, Kumari S, Cammer M, Iskratsch T, Herbin O, Alexandropoulos K, Dustin ML et al.
Immunology &Amp; Cell Biology, Wiley vol. 94 (10), 981-993.  
01-11-2016
Cellular Stress Affects the Nucleoskeleton in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Pluess M, Iskratsch T, Bennett P, Dwyer J, Pandey P, dos Remedios C, Ehler E
 
01-02-2016

2015

Tropomyosin controls sarcomere-like contractions for rigidity sensing and suppressing growth on soft matrices
Wolfenson H, Meacci G, Liu S, Stachowiak MR, Iskratsch T, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P, O’Shaughnessy B et al.
Nature Cell Biology, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 18 (1), 33-42.  
30-11-2015
Changes in cardiac cytoarchitecture in human dilated cardiomyopathy
Ehler E, Pluess M, Randall T, Dwyer J, Iskratsch T, Dos Remedios C, Bennett P
 
01-01-2015
Micropatterning of TCR and LFA-1 ligands reveals complementary effects on cytoskeleton mechanics in T cells
Tabdanov E, Gondarenko S, Kumari S, Liapis A, Dustin ML, Sheetz MP, Kam LC, Iskratsch T
Integrative Biology, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 7 (10), 1272-1284.  
01-01-2015

2014

Early Events in Cell Spreading as a Model for Quantitative Analysis of Biomechanical Events
Wolfenson H, Iskratsch T, Sheetz MP
Biophysical Journal, Elsevier Bv vol. 107 (11), 2508-2514.  
01-12-2014
Appreciating force and shape — the rise of mechanotransduction in cell biology
Iskratsch T, Wolfenson H, Sheetz MP
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 15 (12), 825-833.  
30-10-2014
The Formin FHOD1 in Cardiomyocytes
Dwyer J, Pluess M, Iskratsch T, dos Remedios CG, Ehler E
The Anatomical Record, Wiley vol. 297 (9), 1560-1570.  
14-08-2014
N-WASP-directed actin polymerization activates p130Cas phosphorylation and lamellipodium spreading
Zhang X, Moore SW, Iskratsch T, Sheetz MP
Journal of Cell Science, The Company of Biologists 
01-01-2014
FHOD1 at Early Integrin Adhesions Drives Cell Spreading
Iskratsch T, Yu C-H, Mathur A, Liu S, Stévenin V, Dwyer J, Hone J, Ehler E et al.
 
01-01-2014
Rigidity sensing by tropomyosin-regulated nanometer steps in local contractions
Wolfenson H, Meacci G, Liu S, Stachowiak MR, Iskratsch T, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P, O'Shaughnessy B et al.
 
01-01-2014

2013

FHOD1 Is Needed for Directed Forces and Adhesion Maturation during Cell Spreading and Migration
Iskratsch T, Yu C-H, Mathur A, Liu S, Stévenin V, Dwyer J, Hone J, Ehler E et al.
Developmental Cell, Elsevier Bv vol. 27 (5), 545-559.  
01-12-2013
Endoplasmic spreading requires coalescence of vimentin intermediate filaments at force-bearing adhesions
Lynch CD, Lazar AM, Iskratsch T, Zhang X, Sheetz MP
Molecular Biology of The Cell, American Society For Cell Biology (Ascb) vol. 24 (1), 21-30.  
01-01-2013
Sarcomere-Like Units Contract Cell Edges
Meacci G, Stachowiak M, Liu S, Iskratsch T, Mathur A, Wolfenson H, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P et al.
 
01-01-2013

2012

Two distinct phosphorylation events govern the function of muscle FHOD3
Iskratsch T, Reijntjes S, Dwyer J, Toselli P, Dégano IR, Dominguez I, Ehler E
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 70 (5), 893-908.  
04-10-2012
Finding the weakest link – exploring integrin-mediated mechanical molecular pathways
Roca-Cusachs P, Iskratsch T, Sheetz MP
Journal of Cell Science, The Company of Biologists 
01-01-2012
Early cell spreading depends on actin polymerisation from integrin clusters by FHOD1.
Iskratsch T, Yu C-H, Mathur A, Hone J, Sheetz M
 
01-01-2012
Sarcomere-Like Units Contract Cell Edges.
Meacci G, Stachowiak M, Liu S, Iskratsch T, Mathur A, Wolfenson H, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P et al.
 
01-01-2012

2011

Actin in striated muscle: recent insights into assembly and maintenance
Dwyer J, Iskratsch T, Ehler E
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 4 (1), 17-25.  
20-12-2011
Formin-g muscle cytoarchitecture
Iskratsch T, Ehler E
Bioarchitecture, Informa Uk Limited vol. 1 (2), 66-68.  
01-03-2011
Sequential action of formin family proteins during fibroblast adhesion and spreading
Iskratsch T, Sheetz M
 
01-01-2011

2010

Formin follows function: a muscle-specific isoform of FHOD3 is regulated by CK2 phosphorylation and promotes myofibril maintenance
Iskratsch T, Lange S, Dwyer J, Kho AL, Remedios CD, Ehler E
The Journal of General Physiology, Rockefeller University Press vol. 137 (1), i1-i1.  
27-12-2010
Formin follows function: a muscle-specific isoform of FHOD3 is regulated by CK2 phosphorylation and promotes myofibril maintenance
Iskratsch T, Lange S, Dwyer J, Kho AL, Remedios CD, Ehler E
Journal of Cell Biology, Rockefeller University Press vol. 191 (6), 1159-1172.  
13-12-2010

2009

Aberrant development of neuromuscular junctions in glycosylation-defective Largemyd mice
Herbst R, Iskratsch T, Unger E, Bittner RE
Neuromuscular Disorders, Elsevier Bv vol. 19 (5), 366-378.  
01-05-2009
Mammalian cells contain a second nucleocytoplasmic hexosaminidase
Gutternigg M, Rendić D, Voglauer R, Iskratsch T, Wilson IBH
Biochemical Journal, Portland Press Ltd. vol. 419 (1), 83-90.  
13-03-2009
Specificity analysis of lectins and antibodies using remodeled glycoproteins
Iskratsch T, Braun A, Paschinger K, Wilson IBH
Analytical Biochemistry, Elsevier Bv vol. 386 (2), 133-146.  
01-03-2009

Grants

solid heart iconGrants of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models
solid heart iconThe role of novel mechanosensitive complex in cardiomyocyte pathophysiology
Thomas Iskratsch and Andrew Tinker
£254,588 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-10-2024 - 30-09-2027
solid heart iconEPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technology (COaCT)
Hazel Screen, Martin Knight, Thomas Iskratsch, Caroline Roney, Yi Sui, David Lee, Julia Shelton, Zion Tse, John Connelly, Adrian Biddle and Lucy Norling
£7,066,811 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council 
Grant Summary

01-07-2024 - 30-09-2032
bullet iconTalin dependent mechanical imprinting as driver for cardiac disease progression
Thomas Iskratsch
£231,663 BHF British Heart Foundation
22-01-2024 - 21-01-2027
bullet iconThermochemical patterning to generate Bionanoarrays: Studentship Rachel Smyth
Thomas Iskratsch
£9,000 Heidelberg Instruments Nano AG
18-01-2024 - 17-01-2027
solid heart iconArtery-on-a-Chip
Thomas Iskratsch
£103,372 Novo Nordisk Foundation (Denmark)
01-01-2024 - 31-12-2026
bullet iconVirtual Atria with Personalised Electrophysiology for Atrial Fibrillation Therapy Planning
Caroline Roney and Thomas Iskratsch
£25,000 Acutus Medical UK Ltd
01-10-2022 - 30-09-2025


bullet iconBioMedEng24
Thomas Iskratsch
£3,000 British Heart Foundation
01-09-2024 - 30-09-2024
solid heart iconDevelopment of functional 3D eccrine sweat gland model
Thomas Iskratsch and John Connelly
£79,541 Unilever UK Ltd
04-10-2021 - 03-10-2024
bullet iconEye-on-a-chip
Helena Azevedo and Thomas Iskratsch
£60,000 Fondazione Dompé
01-07-2021 - 30-06-2024
bullet icon3D Photoelectrochemical Imaging in Porous Light-Addressable Structures
Steffi Krause, Joseph Briscoe and Thomas Iskratsch
£202,248 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
01-02-2021 - 30-04-2023
bullet iconThe regulation of mechanosensing in healthy and atherosclerotic VSMC
Thomas Iskratsch
£238,021 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-12-2020 - 30-11-2023
bullet iconInvestigating the cardiomyocyte rigidity sensing mechanism with micro patterned surfaces and nanopil
Thomas Iskratsch
£490,545 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-02-2019 - 31-03-2023
bullet iconIntermediate basic science research fellowship - GRANT TRANSFER
Thomas Iskratsch
£165,478 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-11-2017 - 31-12-2018