Prof Thomas Iskratsch
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
Role of the extracellular matrix in cardiac ageingPrakash A, Smith PO, Iskratsch T
Nature Materials, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 24 (9), 1337-1339.
18-08-2025
Dysregulated SASS6 expression promotes increased ciliogenesis and cell invasion phenotypesHargreaves 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 remodellingMarhuenda 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-AssemblyPadilla-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 atherosclerosisSwiatlowska 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 applicationsFromager 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 StiffnessFaleeva 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 phenotypesHargreaves 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 patterningZheng 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 CellsSwiatlowska 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 VIKapustin 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 RhoAMarhuenda 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 integrityRoss 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 organoidsJacques 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 humansBattey 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 RegulationSwiatlowska 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 matrixHawkes 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 mechanotransductionWilson 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 humansBattey 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 organoidsJacques 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 switchingSwiatlowska 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 ECMHawkes 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 integrityRoss 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 eIF6Wilson 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 diseaseSwiatlowska 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 scalesSwiatlowska 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 mechanosensingMarhuenda 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 IskratschJournal 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 heartWard 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 sensingDi 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 -861Pedrosa 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 HeartXanthis 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 mechanosensingSit 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 controlHawkes 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 fibersCiuba 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 ContractionsPandey 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 CardiomyocytesKoldyka O, Pandey P, Iskratsch T, Ehler E
01-02-2018
2017
Polymer fiber-based models of connective tissue repair and healingLee 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 cardiomyopathyPluess 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 retractionsMeacci 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 stabilitySantos 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 CardiomyopathyPluess 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 matricesWolfenson 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 cardiomyopathyEhler 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 cellsTabdanov 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 EventsWolfenson 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 biologyIskratsch 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 CardiomyocytesDwyer 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 spreadingZhang 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 SpreadingIskratsch 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 contractionsWolfenson 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 MigrationIskratsch 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 adhesionsLynch 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 EdgesMeacci 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 FHOD3Iskratsch 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 pathwaysRoca-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 maintenanceDwyer J, Iskratsch T, Ehler E
Biophysical Reviews, Springer Science and Business Media Llc vol. 4 (1), 17-25.
20-12-2011
Formin-g muscle cytoarchitectureIskratsch 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 spreadingIskratsch T, Sheetz M
01-01-2011
2010
Formin follows function: a muscle-specific isoform of FHOD3 is regulated by CK2 phosphorylation and promotes myofibril maintenanceIskratsch 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 maintenanceIskratsch 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 miceHerbst 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 hexosaminidaseGutternigg 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 glycoproteinsIskratsch T, Braun A, Paschinger K, Wilson IBH
Analytical Biochemistry, Elsevier Bv vol. 386 (2), 133-146.
01-03-2009
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro ModelsThe role of novel mechanosensitive complex in cardiomyocyte pathophysiologyThomas Iskratsch and Andrew Tinker
£254,588 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-10-2024 - 30-09-2027
EPSRC 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
Talin dependent mechanical imprinting as driver for cardiac disease progressionThomas Iskratsch
£231,663 BHF British Heart Foundation
22-01-2024 - 21-01-2027
Thermochemical patterning to generate Bionanoarrays: Studentship Rachel SmythThomas Iskratsch
£9,000 Heidelberg Instruments Nano AG
18-01-2024 - 17-01-2027
Virtual Atria with Personalised Electrophysiology for Atrial Fibrillation Therapy PlanningCaroline Roney and Thomas Iskratsch
£25,000 Acutus Medical UK Ltd
01-10-2022 - 30-09-2025
Development of functional 3D eccrine sweat gland modelThomas Iskratsch and John Connelly
£79,541 Unilever UK Ltd
04-10-2021 - 03-10-2024
3D Photoelectrochemical Imaging in Porous Light-Addressable StructuresSteffi Krause, Joseph Briscoe and Thomas Iskratsch
£202,248 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
01-02-2021 - 30-04-2023
The regulation of mechanosensing in healthy and atherosclerotic VSMCThomas Iskratsch
£238,021 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-12-2020 - 30-11-2023
Investigating the cardiomyocyte rigidity sensing mechanism with micro patterned surfaces and nanopilThomas Iskratsch
£490,545 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-02-2019 - 31-03-2023
Intermediate basic science research fellowship - GRANT TRANSFERThomas Iskratsch
£165,478 BHF British Heart Foundation
01-11-2017 - 31-12-2018