ROGER D. KAMM, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Departments of Biological Engineering and Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION:
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, Evanston, Illinois
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, June 1972
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA
S.M. in Mechanical Engineering, August 1973
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, May 1977
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1978-1981 : Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, M.I.T.
1981-1988 : Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, M.I.T.
1988- : Professor of Health Sciences and Technology, M.I.T. and Harvard University
1988- : Professor of Mechanical Engineering, M.I.T.
1994- : Associate Director, Center for Biomedical Engineering, M.I.T.
2010- : Director, NSF Science and Technology Center on Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems
Topic:Using microfluidics to study multi-cell interactions in metastatic cancer
Metastatic cancer often involves a sequence of events: the separation of individual cells from the primary tumor, migration through host tissue under the action of biochemical gradients and physical factors such as interstitial flow, intravasation into the vascular system, extravasation at a remote site, and the colonization, growth and vascularization of a peripheral tumor. Each of these processes involves a complex set of signaling events among multiple cell types in a variety of microenvironmental settings. Studies have been performed using various designs of a microfluidic platform to simulate several stages of metastasis: epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration through the extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, intravasation, and extravasation. Selected results will be presented addressing several of these phenomena. Studies of intravasation show how the presence of accessory cells (e.g., macrophages) appear to be necessary for vascular wall crossing. Extravasation, in contrast, appears to occur readily with no need for other cell types, and occurs soon after contact with the endothelial monolayer. Tumor vascularization is influenced by secreted factors from tumor cells and by local interstitial flows. Examples will focus on the critical role of mechanobiology in these behaviors.
Venue: Room143, New Biology Building, THU
Time: Jan 8 (Tuesday), 2013; 16:30
Host: Prof. Ting Zhu