FY25 Faculty Seed Grant Winners

Congratulations to our FY25 Seed Grant Award winners!

Each of the following novel research projects has been granted $25,000 to support innovative research in the field of mechanobiology.

Assessing the effect of caffeine on the elastic properties of extracellular DNA and on biofilm mechanics
Co-PIs Masha Kamenstska and Joe Larkin
Nucleic acids, known as DNA and RNA, are molecules that encode genetic information and are also relatively structurally robust compared to many other extended biomolecules. DNA, in particular, can serve as a structural support for bacterial colonies, known as biofilms. These biofilms form in the gut as part of a healthy process, but can also be harmful in diseases such as pneumonia. The ability to controllably tune the mechanical property of biofilms can allow us to disrupt harmful or promote healthy biofilm formation. Here, we hypothesize that caffeine and similar molecules bind to DNA and decrease its stiffness, thereby changing the mechanical properties of bacterial biofilms which typically contain large amounts of DNA. To test this hypothesis, we will combine methods to measure DNA stiffness in the presence of caffeine on the level of single molecules with techniques to probe the mechanics of biofilms on the macroscopic level.

Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Chronic Cough in the Respiratory System
Co-PIs Bela Suki and Bob Varelas
Chronic cough negatively impacts approximately 10% of the world population (~1 billion people), deteriorating physical and mental health and lowering quality of life. Cough is a symptom of virtually all respiratory diseases and infections, and while cough is thought to be a defense mechanism, it is also associated with morbidity and mortality. Substantial research has focused on understanding of what causes cough, but few if any studies have asked the question of what are the consequences of coughing? In this proposal we ask: Does cough lead to cell dysfunction that contributes to respiratory diseases? Our project will use new tools and optimized respiratory tissue manipulation methods to examine how lung cells respond to the mechanics of cough. Results from our study will offer fundamental knowledge of how cough affects lung function and provide potential new directions for treatment strategies for respiratory diseases.

Fast-Acting Receptors for Biomechanical Cell Engineering
Co-PIs John Ngo and Chris Chen
Mechanical forces are fundamental regulators of biology, influencing life processes at every scale–from that of organs and tissues down to the level of single molecules and individual bonds. For example, cardiac muscle cells exploit their electrical and physical connectivity within the heart to coordinate synchronized contractile events that pump blood and nutrients throughout our bodies. While the heart beats with rhythms of seconds, other mechanical processes can unfold within cells along milliseconds (or thousandths of a second). This project aims to re-engineer how cells sense and respond to forces. Specifically, we will accelerate the activity of engineered ‘mechanoreceptors,’ which currently act along hour timescales, to generate fast-acting versions that react within minutes. If successful, this project will deepen our understanding of cellular processes and may also enable the design of new therapies based on biomechanically engineered cells.