Leaderboards/Cellular Mechanics and Interactions

Cellular Mechanics and Interactions

Last updated July 15, 2026

Rising Stars

Fresh ink, massive impact

Researchers

1
Jelle J. F. Sleeboom
Erasmus MC
2
Waad H. Abuwatfa
American University of Sharjah
3
Linglan Fu
University of British Columbia
4
Ibraheem Alshareedah
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
5
B. Majhy
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
6
Yufeng Shou
National University of Singapore
7
Mengchun Zhu
Beijing Institute of Technology
8
Alberto Elósegui-Artola
King's College London
9
Aleksi Isomursu
Åbo Akademi University
10
Adam Shellard
University College London

Papers

1
The extracellular matrix as hallmark of cancer and metastasis: From biomechanics to therapeutic targets
Science Translational Medicine|2024
333 cit.
2
Scaffold-based 3D cell culture models in cancer research
Journal of Biomedical Science|2024
278 cit.
3
Sequence-specific interactions determine viscoelasticity and ageing dynamics of protein condensates
Nature Physics|2024
146 cit.
4
Determinants of viscoelasticity and flow activation energy in biomolecular condensates
Science Advances|2024
84 cit.
5
Frictiotaxis underlies focal adhesion-independent durotaxis
Nature Communications|2025
9 cit.
6
Ionic Crosslinking Improves the Stiffness and Toughness of Protein Hydrogels
Polymer science & technology.|2025
8 cit.
7
The human RAD52 complex undergoes phase separation and facilitates bundling and end-to-end tethering of RAD51 presynaptic filaments
Nucleic Acids Research|2026
3 cit.
8
Publication (2024) [W4409103292]
Unknown Journal|2024
0 cit.
9
Publication in Lab on a Chip (2026) [W7135045376]
Lab on a Chip|2026
0 cit.
10
Publication in BJC Reports (2026) [W7160080824]
BJC Reports|2026
0 cit.

Emerging Leaders

Drafting the new consensus

Researchers

1
Ovijit Chaudhuri
Stanford University
2
Brendon M. Baker
University of Michigan
3
Paolo P. Provenzano
University of Minnesota
4
Michael P. Murrell
Yale University
5
Zahraa Alraies
Université Paris Sciences et Lettres
6
Pablo J. Sáez
Universität Hamburg
7
Heemin Kang
Korea University
8
Damien Cuvelier
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
9
Cédric J. Cattin
ETH Zurich
10
Christoph J. Burckhardt
Southwestern Medical Center

Papers

1
Cell shape sensing licenses dendritic cells for homeostatic migration to lymph nodes
Nature Immunology|2024
87 cit.
2
Antimicrobial carbon materials-based quantum dots: From synthesis strategies to antibacterial properties for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in wound healing
Coordination Chemistry Reviews|2024
85 cit.
3
Manipulating Nanoparticle Aggregates Regulates Receptor–Ligand Binding in Macrophages
Journal of the American Chemical Society|2022
69 cit.
4
Cell volume expansion and local contractility drive collective invasion of the basement membrane in breast cancer
Nature Materials|2023
64 cit.
5
F-actin architecture determines constraints on myosin thick filament motion
Nature Communications|2022
56 cit.
6
Targeting TNF-α–producing macrophages activates antitumor immunity in pancreatic cancer via IL-33 signaling
JCI Insight|2022
54 cit.
7
Intracellular tension sensor reveals mechanical anisotropy of the actin cytoskeleton
Nature Communications|2023
53 cit.
8
Photoswitchable Microgels for Dynamic Macrophage Modulation
Advanced Materials|2022
48 cit.
9
Modulation of Macrophages by In Situ Ligand Bridging
Advanced Functional Materials|2023
45 cit.
10
Submolecular Ligand Size and Spacing for Cell Adhesion
Advanced Materials|2022
41 cit.

Current Senior Leaders

Wrote the book, still writing it

Researchers

1
Dennis E. Discher
University of Pennsylvania
2
Michael P. Sheetz
National University of Singapore
3
Donald E. Ingber
Inspire
4
Thomas D. Pollard
Yale University
5
Christopher S. Chen
Inspire
6
Paul A. Janmey
And Technology Research (United Kingdom)
7
Kenneth M. Yamada
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
8
Keith Burridge
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
9
David Mooney
Harvard University
10
John S. Condeelis
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Papers

1
Matrix Elasticity Directs Stem Cell Lineage Specification
Cell|2006
13.7k cit.
2
Alginate: Properties and biomedical applications
Progress in Polymer Science|2011
7.8k cit.
3
Geometric Control of Cell Life and Death
Science|1997
4.7k cit.
4
Cell Shape, Cytoskeletal Tension, and RhoA Regulate Stem Cell Lineage Commitment
Developmental Cell|2004
4.2k cit.
5
Reconstituting Organ-Level Lung Functions on a Chip
Science|2010
4.1k cit.
6
Microfluidic organs-on-chips
Nature Biotechnology|2014
3.2k cit.
7
Taking Cell-Matrix Adhesions to the Third Dimension
Science|2001
3k cit.
8
Mechanotransduction Across the Cell Surface and Through the Cytoskeleton
Science|1993
3k cit.
9
Shape effects of filaments versus spherical particles in flow and drug delivery
Nature Nanotechnology|2007
2.5k cit.
10
Hydrogels with tunable stress relaxation regulate stem cell fate and activity
Nature Materials|2015
2.4k cit.

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