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Richard E. Waugh, Ph.D.

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Research Labs

Faculty Appointments

Biography

Research

In our laboratory we study the mechanical properties of cells and the mechanochemistry of cell adhesion. We are particularly interested in learning about the molecular mechanisms underlying the control of cell deformability and cell adhesion, and the role that mechanical forces and membrane stability play in both the formation and separation of adhesive contacts. Our fundamental approach is to perform mechanical measurements on individual cells or cell pairs to measure response of cells to applied forces or the probability of cell adhesion under controlled conditions. Our main focus is the study of cells in the peripheral vasculature. The deformability of circulating cells and adhesive interactions between cells in the vasculature has relevance to diverse aspects of human physiology ranging from oxygen delivery and hemolytic anemia, to atherosclerosis or immune response and inflammation. Historically, our lab has been one of the leading facilities for investigating red blood cell mechanical properties and the stability of biological membranes. More recently we have begun to examine the physical mechanisms underlying neutrophil adhesion to endothelium, a key event in the body's response to infection or injury. Another area of interest is in the late stage maturation of red blood cells. We have observed changes in the mechanical properties that occur as red cells develop and mature. We are working on developing methods to observe the maturation of red cells in culture so that we can follow the maturation process in the laboratory. By correlating changes in mechanical stability with the appearance and assembly of cytoskeletal proteins we can deduce which molecules and what interactions are important for developing proper mechanical function. Maintaining mechanical stability appears to be critical for the successful completion of red blood cell maturation, as it appears that instabilities in the cell surface lead to loss of cell membrane and cell death if the membranes are not properly supported mechanically as they mature.

Credentials

Education

1973
BS | University of Notre Dame
Engineering, All Other

1977
PhD | Duke University
Bioengineering

Publications

Journal Articles

4/17/2023
Hong Y, Walling BL, Kim HR, Serratelli WS, Lozada JR, Sailer CJ, Amitrano AM, Lim K, Mongre RK, Kim KD, Capece T, Lomakina EB, Reilly NS, Vo K, Gerber SA, Fan TC, Yu AL, Oakes PW, Waugh RE, Jun CD, Reagan PM, Kim M. "ST3GAL1 and ?II-spectrin pathways control CAR T cell migration to target tumors." Nature immunology.. 2023 Apr 17; Epub 2023 Apr 17.

2023
Ahmad SD, Cetin M, Waugh RE, McGrath JL. "A computer vision approach for analyzing label free leukocyte trafficking dynamics on a microvascular mimetic." Frontiers in immunology.. 2023 14:1140395. Epub 2023 Mar 24.

8/11/2022
Mansouri M, Ahmed A, Ahmad SD, McCloskey MC, Joshi IM, Gaborski TR, Waugh RE, McGrath JL, Day SW, Abhyankar VV. "The Modular ?SiM Reconfigured: Integration of Microfluidic Capabilities to Study in vitro Barrier Tissue Models under Flow." Advanced healthcare materials.. 2022 Aug 11; :e2200802. Epub 2022 Aug 11.

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