Introduction / mission

At STEM we aim to understand and predict how mechanical factors influence soft tissue growth, remodelling, damage, and repair. We use this knowledge to (re)build soft tissues and organs within the human body, and to find ways to prevent mechanically-induced soft tissue degeneration.

Highlighted phrase

Modelling and experimentation at length scales from molecule to man

Organisational profile

While performing our research at the forefront of soft tissue biomechanics, mechanobiology, and the engineering of living soft biological tissues and organs, we strive to provide a stimulating educational environment for graduate and post-graduate students. Our research is multi-disciplinary at heart, combining concepts from molecular, cell and tissue biology, (patho)physiology, immunology, biomechanics, physics, engineering, and materials science. To translate our fundamental knowledge to (bio)medical applications we actively collaborate with clinical partners, industry, and patient organizations.

Research themes at the STEM group include: i) cardiovascular in situ tissue engineering, ii) tissue growth and remodelling, iii) the biophysical cellular niche, iv) tissue and organ morphogenesis, v) hybrid organs, vi) scaffold design, and vii) soft tissue mechanics. Emphasis is given to the integration of computational modelling with experimentation at length scales from molecule to man.