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Dennis E. Discher, Ph.D.
Professor, Depts of Chemical & Biomolecular
Engineering and Bioengineering
Cell
Biology and Physiology Program
Address
Biophysical Engineering Lab
112
Towne Bldg
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6393
Office tel.: 215 898-4809
Lab tel.: 215 898-4809
Fax: 215 573-2093
E-mail: discher@seas.upenn.edu
Link(s)
Dr. Discher's
Lab Webpage
EDUCATION
UC Davis: BS, 1986.
Berkeley & UC San Francisco:
PhD (Bioengineering), 1993.
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Research Interests
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Cell and nuclear membrane structure-function.
- Adhesion mechanisms and responses of cells.
- Phagocyte recognition processes.
- Membrane skeleton and cytoskeleton.
- Diseases ranging from muscular dystrophy to anemias to
athersclerosis.
Drug delivery
Key
words: membrane, cytoskeleton,
phagocytosis, adhesion, blood cell, muscle differentiation,
drug delivery.
Description of Research
Our focus is molecular and cell biophysics, ranging from
matrix-guided differentiation of stem cells and muscle to
nuclear plasticity.
Selected Publications
R. Tsai and D.E. Discher (2008). Inhibition of 'Self' Engulfment through deactivation of Myosin-II at the Phagocytic Synapse between Human Cells.
Journal of Cell Biology. 180, 989-1003 ** Cover Article **
C.P. Johnson, H-Y. Tang, C. Carag, D.W. Speicher, and D.E. Discher.
Forced unfolding of proteins within cells. Science. 317, 663-666 (2007).
J.D. Pajerowski, K.N. Dahl, F.L. Zhong, P.J. Sammak, and D.E.
Discher. Physical plasticity of the nucleus in stem cell differentiation. PNAS. 104, 15619-15624 (2007).
A. Engler, S. Sen, H.L. Sweeney, and D.E. Discher. (2006). Matrix elasticity directs stem cell lineage specification. Cell. 126, 677-689
D.E. Discher, P. Janmey, Y-L. Wang. (2005). Tissue cells feel and respond to the stiffness of their substrate. Science. 310, 1139-1143.
Search PubMed for more articles
LAB
Rotation Projects
- Stem cell differentiation guided by matrix
- Phagocytic Synapse signaling: "Don't Eat Me"
- Nuclear perturbations and mechanical disease
- Lab Personnel:
Allison Zajac, CBP-PhD Student
Julie Magallanes, CBP-PMI Training Grant Fellow
Rebecca Tenney, GTV-PhD Student
David Christian, NIH-Training Grant Fellow
David Pajerowski, Ashton Fellow
Richard Tsai, BE-PhD Student
Andre Brown, NSERC Fellow
Christine Carag, CBE-PhD Student
Matthew Raab, Ashton Fellow
Brian Chase, GAANN Fellow
Dr. Florian Rehfeldt, Humboldt Fellow
Dr. Irena Ivanovska, Human Frontiers Fellow
Dr. Karthikan Rajagopal, Post-doctoral Fellow
Dr. Manu Tewari, Research Staff
last updated 7/2008
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