Prof 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
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Cardiovascular Mechanobiology, Mechanosensing, Cardiovascular Disease, Micro-/Nanopatterning, 3D 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
2025

Prakash A, Smith PO, Iskratsch T
Nature Materials, Springer Science and Business Media Llc
18-08-2025

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

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

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

Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T, Shanahan C
Atherosclerosis, Elsevier Bv vol. 395, 118395-118395.
01-08-2024

Fromager B, Cambedouzou J, Marhuenda E, Iskratsch T, Pinault M, Bakalara N, Cornu D
Chembiochem, Wiley vol. 25 (7)
12-03-2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T
Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 38 (2), 215-222.
18-01-2023
2022

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

Wilson DGS, Tinker A, Iskratsch T
Communications Biology, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 5 (1)
27-09-2022

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

Jacques R, Zhou B, Marhuenda E, Gorecki J, Das A, Iskratsch T, Krause S
In Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
06-09-2022

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

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

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

Wilson DGS, Iskratsch T
Journal of Cell Biology, Rockefeller University Press vol. 221 (2)
21-01-2022
2021

Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 13 (5), 575-577.
11-09-2021

Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 13 (5), 611-623.
05-09-2021

Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 13 (3), 307-308.
03-05-2021

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

Journal of Cell Science, The Company of Biologists vol. 133 (15)
01-08-2020

Ward M, Iskratsch T
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta (Bba) - Molecular Cell Research, Elsevier Bv vol. 1867 (3), 118436-118436.
01-03-2020

Di Cio S, Iskratsch T, Connelly JT, Gautrot JE
Biomaterials, Elsevier Bv vol. 232, 119683-119683.
01-02-2020
2019

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

Xanthis I, Iskratsch T
Developmental Cell, Elsevier Bv vol. 49 (6), 821-822.
01-06-2019

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

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

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

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

Koldyka O, Pandey P, Iskratsch T, Ehler E
01-02-2018
2017

Lee NM, Erisken C, Iskratsch T, Sheetz M, Levine WN, Lu HH
Biomaterials, Elsevier Bv vol. 112, 303-312.
01-01-2017

Pluess M, Koldyka O, Iskratsch T, Bennett P, Dwyer J, Pandey P, dos Remedios C, Ehler E
01-01-2017
2016

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

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

Pluess M, Iskratsch T, Bennett P, Dwyer J, Pandey P, dos Remedios C, Ehler E
01-02-2016
2015

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

Ehler E, Pluess M, Randall T, Dwyer J, Iskratsch T, Dos Remedios C, Bennett P
01-01-2015

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

Wolfenson H, Iskratsch T, Sheetz MP
Biophysical Journal, Elsevier Bv vol. 107 (11), 2508-2514.
01-12-2014

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

Dwyer J, Pluess M, Iskratsch T, dos Remedios CG, Ehler E
The Anatomical Record, Wiley vol. 297 (9), 1560-1570.
14-08-2014

Zhang X, Moore SW, Iskratsch T, Sheetz MP
Journal of Cell Science, The Company of Biologists
01-01-2014

Iskratsch T, Yu C-H, Mathur A, Liu S, Stévenin V, Dwyer J, Hone J, Ehler E et al.
01-01-2014

Wolfenson H, Meacci G, Liu S, Stachowiak MR, Iskratsch T, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P, O'Shaughnessy B et al.
01-01-2014
2013

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

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

Meacci G, Stachowiak M, Liu S, Iskratsch T, Mathur A, Wolfenson H, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P et al.
01-01-2013
2012

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

Roca-Cusachs P, Iskratsch T, Sheetz MP
Journal of Cell Science, The Company of Biologists
01-01-2012

Iskratsch T, Yu C-H, Mathur A, Hone J, Sheetz M
01-01-2012

Meacci G, Stachowiak M, Liu S, Iskratsch T, Mathur A, Wolfenson H, Ghassemi S, Roca-Cusachs P et al.
01-01-2012
2011

Dwyer J, Iskratsch T, Ehler E
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 4 (1), 17-25.
20-12-2011

Iskratsch T, Ehler E
Bioarchitecture, Informa Uk Limited vol. 1 (2), 66-68.
01-03-2011

Iskratsch T, Sheetz M
01-01-2011
2010

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

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

Herbst R, Iskratsch T, Unger E, Bittner RE
Neuromuscular Disorders, Elsevier Bv vol. 19 (5), 366-378.
01-05-2009

Gutternigg M, Rendić D, Voglauer R, Iskratsch T, Wilson IBH
Biochemical Journal, Portland Press Ltd. vol. 419 (1), 83-90.
13-03-2009

Iskratsch T, Braun A, Paschinger K, Wilson IBH
Analytical Biochemistry, Elsevier Bv vol. 386 (2), 133-146.
01-03-2009
Grants


Thomas Iskratsch and Andrew Tinker
£254,588 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-10-2024 - 30-09-2027

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

Thomas Iskratsch
£231,663 BHF British Heart Foundation
22-01-2024 - 21-01-2027

Thomas Iskratsch
£9,000 Heidelberg Instruments Nano AG
18-01-2024 - 17-01-2027

Caroline Roney and Thomas Iskratsch
£25,000 Acutus Medical UK Ltd
01-10-2022 - 30-09-2025

Thomas Iskratsch and John Connelly
£79,541 Unilever UK Ltd
04-10-2021 - 03-10-2024

Steffi Krause, Joseph Briscoe and Thomas Iskratsch
£202,248 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
01-02-2021 - 30-04-2023

Thomas Iskratsch
£238,021 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-12-2020 - 30-11-2023

Thomas Iskratsch
£490,545 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-02-2019 - 31-03-2023

Thomas Iskratsch
£165,478 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-11-2017 - 31-12-2018