T32 Symposium Keynote Speaker: Dennis E. Discher, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania)

Mechanobiology in an AI age 

The Discher lab has sought to discover, explain, and sometimes exploit the mechanobiology of cells, molecules, and tissues as well as bio-inspired soft matter systems. Early discoveries included matrix elasticity effects on stem cell differentiation (Cell 2006), mechano-regulation of the nucleus (Science 2013), and tough polymersomes (Science 1999, 2002). Current efforts focus on mutations relating to tissue rheology (in revision) and tumoricidal macrophages (PNAS 2025) based on ‘foreign’ versus ‘self’ (Science 2013). Past trainees are in academia and industry around the world. Honors include election to the US National Academy of Engineering, the US National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and Fellow of the American Society of Cell Biology. Service includes Editorial Boards of Science and PNAS Nexus among other journals.