Dr Stefaan Verbruggen
Lecturer in Medical Technology
Library Liaison Officer
School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Bone biomechanics and mechanobiology, Developmental biomechanics, Cancer mechanobiology, Organ-on-a-chip, Computational Modelling
Interests
Dr Stefaan Verbruggen is a Lecturer in Medical Technology at Queen Mary University of London. His research focuses on the mechanobiology of bone cells, and developing predictive in vitro models of cancer metastasis. As a Visiting Academic at the INSIGNEO Institute of in silico Medicine, Dr Verbruggen also builds predictive computational models of the biomechanics of metastatic bone lesions.Prior to this, Dr Verbruggen conducted his PhD research in bone cell mechanobiology the Biomechanics Research Centre at the National University of Ireland Galway, followed by postdoctoral research in how fetal movements affect joint development in the Developmental Biomechanics Lab at Imperial College London.
Dr Verbruggen was then awarded a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research Fellowship at Queen Mary University of London. As part of a collaboration with the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, New York, Dr Verbruggen's investigated the mechanobiology of cancer cells, and how they metastasise to bone from other areas of the body.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Bioengineering2024
Air Pollution and OsteoporosisAllen O, Knight MM and Verbruggen SW
Current Osteoporosis Reports, Springer Science and Business Media Llc
20-09-2024
Analytical and computational studies predict negligible risk of cell death from eddy generation off flat surfaces in cell culture flow systemsMorley EJ, Brockett CL and Verbruggen SW
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Frontiers vol. 12, 1340653-1340653.
07-08-2024
Utilizing 3D Models to Unravel the Dynamics of Myeloma Plasma Cells’ Escape from the Bone Marrow MicroenvironmentVerbruggen SW, Freeman CL and Freeman FE
Cancers, Mdpi vol. 16 (5)
22-02-2024
Role of the osteocyte in bone metastasis – The importance of networkingVerbruggen SW
Journal of Bone Oncology, Elsevier vol. 44
17-01-2024
2023
A Novel Primary Cilium‐Mediated Mechanism Through which Osteocytes Regulate Metastatic Behavior of Both Breast and Prostate Cancer CellsVerbruggen SW, Nolan J, Duffy MP, Pearce OMT, Jacobs CR and Knight MM
Advanced Science, Wiley vol. 11 (2), 2305842-2305842.
15-11-2023
Osteocytes and Primary CiliaVerbruggen SW, Sittichokechaiwut A and Reilly GC
Current Osteoporosis Reports, Springer
08-09-2023
In silico assessment of the bone regeneration potential of complex porous scaffoldsAsbai-Ghoudan R, Nasello G, Pérez MÁ, Verbruggen SW, Ruiz de Galarreta S and Rodriguez-Florez N
Computers in Biology and Medicine, Elsevier vol. 165
14-08-2023
Osteoclastogenesis Requires Primary Cilia Disassembly and Can Be Inhibited by Promoting Primary Cilia Formation PharmacologicallySutton MM, Duffy MP, Verbruggen SW and Jacobs CR
Cells Tissues Organs, Karger Publishers vol. 213 (3), 235-244.
22-05-2023
Organ-on-a-Chip and Microfluidic Platforms for Oncology in the UKNolan J, Pearce OMT, Screen HRC, Knight MM and Verbruggen SW
Cancers, Mdpi vol. 15 (3)
19-01-2023
2021
Disrupted osteocyte connectivity and pericellular fluid flow in bone with aging and defective TGF-β signalingSchurman CA, Verbruggen SW and Alliston T
Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences vol. 118 (25), e2023999118-e2023999118.
14-06-2021
Mechanical Stimulation Modulates Osteocyte Regulation of Cancer Cell PhenotypeVerbruggen SW, Thompson CL, Duffy MP, Lunetto S, Nolan J, Pearce OMT, Jacobs CR and Knight MM
Cancers, Mdpi vol. 13 (12)
10-06-2021
2020
Disrupted Lacunar-Canalicular Networks and Osteocyte Mechanosensation in Bone with Aging and Disrupted TGFb SignalingSchurman C, Verbruggen S and Alliston T
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH. vol. 35, 5-5.
01-01-2020
2019
Age-related suppression of osteocyte lacuna/canalicular networks, PLR gene expression, and pericellular fluid flowSchurman C, Verbruggen S and Alliston T
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH. vol. 34, 383-383.
01-12-2019
Age-related suppression of osteocyte lacuna/canalicular networks, PLR gene expression, and pericellular fluid flowSchurman C, Verbruggen S and Alliston T
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH. vol. 34, 383-383.
01-01-2019
2018
European Society of Biomechanics S.M. Perren Award 2018: Altered biomechanical stimulation of the developing hip joint in presence of hip dysplasia risk factorsVerbruggen SW, Kainz B, Shelmerdine SC, Arthurs OJ, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC
Journal of Biomechanics, Elsevier vol. 78, 1-9.
20-07-2018
Stresses and strains on the human fetal skeleton during developmentVerbruggen SW, Kainz B, Shelmerdine SC, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Arthurs OJ, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC
Journal of The Royal Society Interface, The Royal Society vol. 15 (138)
01-01-2018
Techniques for studying mechanobiologyDolan EB, Verbruggen SW and Rolfe RA
In Mechanobiology in Health and Disease 1-53.
01-01-2018
Bone mechanobiology in health and diseaseVerbruggen SW and McNamara LM
In Mechanobiology in Health and Disease 157-214.
01-01-2018
Chapter 6 Bone mechanobiology in health and diseaseVerbruggen SW and McNamara LM
In Mechanobiology in Health and Disease, Elsevier 157-214.
01-01-2018
Chapter 1 Techniques for studying mechanobiologyDolan EB, Verbruggen SW and Rolfe RA
In Mechanobiology in Health and Disease, Elsevier 1-53.
01-01-2018
2017
Function and failure of the fetal membrane: Modelling the mechanics of the chorion and amnion.Verbruggen SW, Oyen ML, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC
Plos One vol. 12 (3), e0171588-e0171588.
28-03-2017
Ontogeny of the Human PelvisVerbruggen SW and Nowlan NC
The Anatomical Record, Wiley vol. 300 (4), 643-652.
15-03-2017
2016
In silico bone mechanobiology: modeling a multifaceted biological systemGiorgi M, Verbruggen SW and Lacroix D
Wires Mechanisms of Disease, Wiley vol. 8 (6), 485-505.
07-09-2016
Mechanisms of osteocyte stimulation in osteoporosisVerbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM
Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, Elsevier vol. 62, 158-168.
10-05-2016
2015
Modeling the biomechanics of fetal movementsVerbruggen SW, Loo JHW, Hayat TTA, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC
Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, Springer Nature vol. 15 (4), 995-1004.
03-11-2015
Altered Mechanical Environment of Bone Cells in an Animal Model of Short- and Long-Term OsteoporosisVerbruggen SW, Mc Garrigle MJ, Haugh MG, Voisin MC and McNamara LM
Biophysical Journal, Elsevier vol. 108 (7), 1587-1598.
01-04-2015
2014
Bone cell mechanosensation of fluid flow stimulation: a fluid–structure interaction model characterising the role integrin attachments and primary ciliaVaughan TJ, Mullen CA, Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM
Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, Springer Nature vol. 14 (4), 703-718.
16-11-2014
2013
Are all osteocytes equal? Multiscale modelling of cortical bone to characterise the mechanical stimulation of osteocytesVaughan TJ, Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM
International Journal For Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, Wiley vol. 29 (12), 1361-1372.
29-07-2013
Fluid flow in the osteocyte mechanical environment: a fluid–structure interaction approachVerbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM
Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, Springer Nature vol. 13 (1), 85-97.
09-04-2013
2012
Loading-Induced Interstitial Fluid Flow in Bone Mechanobiology: An FSI Approach to the Osteocyte EnvironmentVerbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM
ASME 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B., 517-518.
20-06-2012
Strain amplification in bone mechanobiology: a computational investigation of the in vivo mechanics of osteocytesVerbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM
Journal of The Royal Society Interface, The Royal Society vol. 9 (75), 2735-2744.
06-06-2012
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for BioengineeringOrgan-chip Facility: A world-class in vitro models facility for the UK community, reducing the barriers to adoption to drive animal replacementHazel Screen, Stefaan Verbruggen, Martin Knight, Julia Shelton, Timothy Hopkins and John Connelly
£573,537 NC3Rs National Center for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research
Grant Summary
07-10-2024 - 14-03-2025
Mechanisms underlying preterm birth in women with HIV in rural ZimbabweAndrew Prendergast, Ruairi Robertson, Melanie Smuk, Claire Bourke, Nikolaos Donos, Robert Allaker, Abish Stephen, Conrad Bessant, Stefaan Verbruggen and Tina Chowdhury
£1,142,315 MRC Medical Research Council
01-05-2024 - 30-04-2027
Microbiome-Bone ChipStefaan Verbruggen and Ravinash Krishna Kumar
£117,511 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
01-04-2024 - 31-03-2025