Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology

Deborah E Leckband

Professor

Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Adhesion; Cell Engineering; Molecular force movements; structure; proteins; electrostatics; biomembranes

Research Interests

Research Description

The BioInterfaces and Cellular Mechanics Group is determining how cells sense and respond to the environment. A major current focus is on mechanotransduction and the conversion of mechanical information into intracellular signaling and molecular cascades that control such cell functions as stem cell differentiation or metastasis. Our multidisciplinary approach engineers cell microenvironments using surface chemistry and microfabrication. We use multiscale biophysical and biochemical approaches to investigate cell adhesion and mechanotransduction, and in turn identify engineering design rules for controlling cell and tissue functions.

Education

B.S., 1982, Humboldt State University
Ph.D., 1988, Cornell University
Postdoct., 1988-1992, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Santa Barbara

Awards

American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow 2005
University Scholar, 2001-2004
National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 1995-1999
National Institutes of Health FIRST Award, 1993-1998