SEMINAR

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Biomechanics of Tumor Growth

Prof. Kristen Lynn Mills

Dept. of Mechanical Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Abstract

Cancer is a genetic disease whereby mutations of a number of genes confer upon cancer cells the ability to endlessly proliferate, evade death, and recruit stromal cells that aid the disease progression. However, the biomechanical environment is also implicated in influencing tumorigenesis, and tumor growth itself affects the biomechanical environment via growth induced mechanical stress and increased matrix stiffness. In our lab we engineer mechanically, morphologically, and geometrically tuned environments to probe the biomechanics and mechanobiology of tumor development and growth. In my talk I will discuss what we have learned about force generation during tumor growth from our most reductive tumor growth models. I will then discuss what happens to tumor cell behavior as geometric and morphologic complexity is increased.

Biography

Education

• 2008 Ph.D., University of Michigan, Mechanical Engineering
• 1999 B.S., University of California, San Diego, Mechanical Engineering

Awards

• 2019 New Investigator Award, DoD CDMRP, Neurofibromatosis Research Program
• 2019 National Science Foundation, Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
• 2009 Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers
• 2002 National Science Foundation, Graduate Research Fellowship

Experience

• 2015-Present Assistant Professor, MANE, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 2008-2014 Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of New Materials and Biosystems, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems
• 2010-2014 Lecturer, Advanced Materials Program, University of Ulm