Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · 6d

Still buzzing after the @cellmech2025.bsky.social conference in Leuven!
It was great to connect with so many experts in mechanobiology and to be part of this close, dynamic community. We enjoyed the inspiring talks and left with plenty of new ideas.💡
Already looking forward to the next edition!

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Reposted by Rocha Lab

Sam Aytekin @samaytekin.bsky.social · 9d

Exciting week ahead! @cellmech2025.bsky.social is looking truly incredible and we are happy to be here as @rochalab.bsky.social. Let’s share some quality science! 🔬

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Reposted by Rocha Lab

Sam Aytekin @samaytekin.bsky.social · Jun 7

Hydrogels are essential in mechanobiology—and PIC is a game changer.
Fully synthetic yet highly biomimetic, PIC opens new possibilities for 3D cell culture applications.
Congrats to Hongbo Yuan, Kouwer Lab, and rochalab.bsky.social on this detailed Nature Protocols guide! 👏📜

Fibrous polyisocyanide hydrogels for 3D cell culture applications - Nature Protocols

Methods to use polyisocyanide as a model matrix for 3D cell culture. Polyisocyanide gels closely mimic the physical properties of biogels such as collagen and fibrin and, as fully synthetic materials,...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Rocha Lab

Boris Louis 🧪🔬 @borislouis.bsky.social · Apr 16

🔬 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 – 𝐃𝐚𝐲 #𝟏 🔬
Exciting times in @rochalab.bsky.social and @hofkenslab.bsky.social Lab !🧪We're restarting to build microscopes, and I decided to guide two PhD students (Steven Huysecom and Toon Van Roy) through the process.
#Microscopy #optics #SciComm #sts

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Mar 27

What if tweaking nanoparticles isn’t enough to improve nanomedicine? 🧐
In our latest work, we show that tumor biology – not just particle design – affects how nanoparticles behave.
Same particles. Different tumors. Totally different outcomes. 🤯
🔎 Curious? Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Tumor Biology Influences Nanoparticle Behaviour in Cancer Models

Nanoparticles (NPs) are a promising tool for cancer therapy, yet few have successfully reached clinical application. Current nanomedicine development pipelines are focused on optimizing physical prope...

www.biorxiv.org

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Feb 17

Thank you for creating this pack, super nice! Could I be added?

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Feb 12

✨The IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast is a wrap!✨
A big thank you to our inspiring speakers for sharing their experiences and motivating the next generation of scientists. Perfect timing to celebrate this on the International Day of Women in Science!👩🏻‍🔬
Let’s keep breaking barriers and building bonds!

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Reposted by Rocha Lab

Heilemann Lab @heilemannlab.bsky.social · Jan 15

If you have a passion for single-molecule super-resolution microscopy🔬, there are great news to share: the SMLMS conference series will continue this year and will be held in Bonn/Germany Aug 27th to 29th ✨- please save the date and join us, we are looking forward to meeting you there👇🏻

SMLMS 2025 @smlm-symposium.bsky.social · Jan 14

Welcome to our blue space! SMLMS 2025 is actively in the making! Soon we will be able to reveal our amazing speaker line-up here in Bonn! Stay tuned! While waiting, maybe already bookmark smlms.org! 👈
See you in August 2025 in Bonn!

SMLMS 2025 – Bonn, August 27th – 29th

smlms.org

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Reposted by Rocha Lab

TanentzapfLab @tanentzapflab.bsky.social · Jan 22

A reminder to colleagues interested in Cell-Matrix adhesion & anything ECM related that registration is now open for the Fibronectin, Integrins & related molecules Gordon Research Conference. Incredible list speakers! incredible location! it will 🔥 🔥 🔥 Please join us! www.grc.org/fibronectin-...

2025 Fibronectin, Integrins and Related Molecules Conference GRC

The 2025 Gordon Research Conference on Fibronectin, Integrins and Related Molecules will be held in Lucca (Barga), Lucca Italy. Apply today to reserve your spot.

www.grc.org

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Jan 15

How do cells translate molecular forces into mechanical actions? 🧬🔬💪 Our new research combines Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) with FRET-based tension sensors to uncover how focal adhesions manage vinculin tension and cellular traction. Check it out: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Linking Molecular Tension and Cellular Tractions: A Multiscale Approach to Focal Adhesion Mechanics

Focal adhesions (FAs) are mechanosensitive structures that mediate force transmission between cells and the extracellular matrix. While Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) quantifies cellular tractions ex...

www.biorxiv.org

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Jan 13

Lab life = science, fun, and cake! 🎂🥳 Nina Anseeuw outdid herself with this lab-logo masterpiece for her birthday. Starting 2025 on a sweet note with science and great vibes! Here’s to more good times (and good science)! 🔬✨ #LabLife #Happy2025

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Jan 7

ESBiomech in Zurich (July) esbiomech2025.org, Gordon conference in Fibronectin, Integrin and related molecules, Lucca (Italy) in May www.grc.org/fibronectin-... and, a bit later (September), CellMech in the beautiful city of Leuven! cellmech2025.org

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Dec 9

Super proud to see the efforts of @borislouis.bsky.social being recognised – even if it has little to do with my own research 😅

Boris Louis 🧪🔬 @borislouis.bsky.social · Dec 9

The Correlation Clustering Imaging (CLIM) method developed with @sudiptaseth.bsky.social @hofkenslab.bsky.social, Scheblykin lab, had two milestones last week:
1) Science and innovation award (KU leuven)
2) Accepted in Advanced materials
You can read about it here, meanwhile: doi.org/10.26434/che...

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Reposted by Rocha Lab

Boris Louis 🧪🔬 @borislouis.bsky.social · Dec 2

Work realized with an incredible team:
Chih-Hao Huang, Marc Melendez, Ana Sánchez-Iglesias,Jorge Olmos-Trigo, @sudiptaseth.bsky.social, @rochalab.bsky.social, Rafael Delgado-Buscalioni, Luis M. Liz-Marzán, Manuel I. Marqués, Hiroshi Masuhara, @hofkenslab.bsky.social, Roger Bresolí-Obach

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Nov 27

These biomimetic materials support cell adhesion and provide a tunable platform for studying mechanotransduction. Are you curious about how we engineered these "life-like" materials?
👉 Check out the publication in Science Advances!

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Nov 27

🔬 Hydrogels Redefined 🔬
What happens when you combine polymer science with collaborative creativity? In a project driven by Dankers' group (Eindhoven) and in collaboration with Kouwer's team (Nijmegen), we explored multi-dynamic hydrogels that combine stress-stiffening and supramolecular polymers.

Synthetic, multi-dynamic hydrogels by uniting stress-stiffening and supramolecular polymers

You have to enable JavaScript in your browser's settings in order to use the eReader.

www.science.org

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Nov 19

I like the interdisciplinarity of this starter pack! Can you add me, please? Thanks!

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Nov 17

🔬 How does tumor stiffness affect cancer? Our latest research shows that stiffer colorectal tumors release proteins that fuel cancer cell migration and blood vessel formation, driving more aggressive tumor behavior. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Deciphering stiffness-driven changes in colorectal cancer by proteomics

Tumor stiffening plays a pivotal role in cancer progression. Increased tumor stiffness, resulting from interactions between cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment, alters the tumor's mech...

www.biorxiv.org

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Nov 17

Would it be possible for me to be added to the list? Thank you!

Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Nov 17

Would it be possible for me to be included on this list? Thanks!

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Nov 14

At the Rocha Lab, we work at the intersection of chemistry 🧪 and biology 🧬, developing hydrogel-based 3D cell models that mimic natural tissues. Our passion for microscopy 🔬 drives us to explore the intricate details of biological systems, pushing the boundaries of cellular research!

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Nov 14

📸 Super proud to share the new Rocha Lab group photo! 🌟 Not everyone could make it, but here’s a glimpse of the team driving our research forward. #LabLife

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Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · May 23

Interested in an interdisciplinary PhD? Join us to explore dynamic cell-ECM interactions using advanced microscopy and nanoparticles! Be a part of the partnership program between KU Leuven and Melbourne University and travel to the other side of the world! Apply now!
www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...

Nano-Enhanced Hydrogels for Probing Cellular Mechanotransduction

Join us to explore dynamic cell-ECM interactions using advanced microscopy and nanoparticles.

www.kuleuven.be

Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · May 16

We are thrilled to announce that Indra Van Zundert has been awarded a prestigious FWO post-doctoral fellowship! 🎉 She will join our team in October, using 3D cell models to develop DNA origamis for gene therapy. 🧬 Can't wait to have you with us at KU Leuven!

Rocha Lab @rochalab.bsky.social · Feb 28

Super proud to share the success of the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast held at
@KU_Leuven! With the support of the Chemistry Department, we hosted over 60 enthusiastic participants. A big shoutout to our speakers for their openness during the Q&A session #GWB2024 #WomeninSTEM

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