Cell structure and mechanobiology group
About
The Cell Structure and Mechanobiology Group is where biology, physics and computing collide in a quest to derive mathematical principles that explain functional changes in cell dynamics and architecture in both healthy and disease states.

Biology has provided an enormous body of descriptive data in its bid to understand the organism by first taking it apart, starting with anatomical descriptions and progressing through to organs, cells and molecules. These descriptions, however, do not necessarily explain the dynamic organisational capacity of cell-based life. At the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, the Cell Structure and Mechanobiology Group is working to create new ways to integrate and analyse biological data. Their goal is to define dynamic principles that drive function-altering changes in cell and tissue architecture, including during disease progression. This ambitious initiative brings physics, advanced imaging technology, biochemistry, electrophysiology, mathematical modelling and machine learning together within a vibrant, intellectually stimulating, multi-disciplinary team. The goal is the development of dynamic simulations that explain changes to cellular systems, with models providing a new platform to test and develop new disease interventions.
Research
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Imaging cellular biology
Imaging is central to the group’s quest to develop predictive models of dynamic cellular processes.
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Modelling cellular dynamics
Expertise in physics and mathematics is being applied to biological systems to transform descriptive data and derive explanatory principles.
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Biomedical applications
A better understanding of cellular dynamics stands to impact on medical research.
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Biophysics and new technology platforms
Learning to define the dynamic processes that underlie cellular biology presents new avenues for technology development.
People
Team members
- Dr Arman Namvar, Post-doc: Red blood cell mechanics and malaria
- Jared Collette, PhD student: Cancer cell motility and mechanobiology
- Nathan Isles, PhD student: Cardiac cell mechanobiology
- Afshin Khadangi, PhD student: Machine learning
- Qilin Yu, PhD student: Cancer cell motility and mechanobiology
- Giovanni Guglielmi, PhD student: Cardiac growth and ageing
Alumni
- Maciej Kubicki, PostDoc: Breast density and breast cancer risk
- David Ladd, was PostDoc: Modelling cellular dynamics, now oNko-Innate Pty Ltd
- Agne Tilunaite, was PostDoc: Cell Signalling, now InterAx Biotech
- Hilary Hunt, was PhD student: Cell signalling, now University of Oxford
- Shouryadipta Ghosh, was PhD: Diabetic cardiomyopathy, now CSIRO
- Jan Jarosz, Diabetic cardiomyopathy
Contact us
- Address
- Building 170
Department of Biomedical Engineering
The University of Melbourne
VIC 3010 Australia - vijay.rajagopal@unimelb.edu.au
- Phone
- +61 3 8344 1281
- Twitter: Group: @cellsmb