The Kumar Laboratory
Welcome to the home page of the Kumar Laboratory in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley!
We address problems in molecular cell dynamics and mechanics, with a focus on understanding how the cellular cytoskeleton governs cellular structure and senses and transduces mechanical inputs from the extracellular environment. We are especially interested in exploring these issues in the nervous system, including neuronal and glial tumors and adult neural stem cells. We take both "inside-out" and "outside-in" approaches, including: (1) Studying and manipulating the microscale assembly and mechanics of cytoskeletal networks in reconstituted and live-cell preparations; and (2) Fabricating extracellular matrices that present defined biophysical cues to cells and determining how these cues influence cell physiology. Our work takes advantage of optical and atomic force microscopy, subcellular laser ablation and photobleaching, microfabrication, traditional biochemical and cell biological methods, and computational tools.
An increasing number of micro- and nanotechnologies either subject cells to mechanical forces, require cells to be patterned into specific spatial arrangements, or both, including a wide variety of MEMS and microfluidic devices and tissue engineering systems. Moreover, many disease states are characterized by altered biophysical crosstalk between cells and their environment. Thus, in addition to building a fundamental understanding of cellular mechanobiology, we envision applying what we learn to contribute to the rational design of cellular biotechnology and to the development of new forms of therapy.
News and Announcements
May 2012: Andy has been recognized by the Carnegie Mellon University Biomedical Engineering Department for his Ph.D. research studying the regulation of cellular traction forces with Dr. Yu-li Wang. He will recieve the Graduate Student Research Award at CMU's commencement on May 19. Congratulations, Andy!
March 2012: Andy Rape, Ph.D., has joined the lab from Carnegie Mellon University to start a postdoctoral fellowship. Welcome, Andy!
February 2012: Maniraj (Mani) Bhagawati, Ph.D., has joined the lab from the University of Osnabrück to start a postdoctoral fellowship. Welcome, Mani!
February 2012: We have a new publication in Biophysical Journal - MacKay et al., A genetic strategy for the dynamic and graded control of cell mechanics, motility, and matrix remodeling.
January 2012: We have a new publication in WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol - Srinivasan and Kumar, Ordered and disordered proteins as nanomaterial building blocks.
January 2012: Sophie is awarded a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) predoctoral fellowship for 2012. This competitive award comes with substantial financial support and will enable her to participate in special training opportunities through the Berkeley Stem Cell Center. Congratulations, Sophie!
December 2011: Anuj finishes his Ph.D. Congratulations, Dr. Patel!
December 2011: We have a new publication in JRS Interface – Sen et al., Contributions of talin-1 to glioma cell-matrix tensional homeostasis.
October 2011: We have a new publication in Stem Cells – Keung, DeJuan et al., Rho GTPases mediate the mechanosensitive lineage commitment of neural stem cells.
Archive of past news and announcements from the Kumar Lab
Lab Meeting Schedule
Resources for lab members
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The Kumar Laboratory gratefully acknowledges grant support from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Army Research Office, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, and the UCB Stem Cell Center and Hellman Faculty Fund. We also gratefully acknowledge predoctoral fellowship support from the National Science Foundation and Department of Defense and postdoctoral fellowship support from the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program and the Human Frontier Science Program. |
