Professor Pathak`s research interests include mechanobiology of the cell, biomaterials, and interactions between cells and extracellular matrices. In particular, his research aims to understand how numerous parameters that define three-dimensional ECMs (e.g. stiffness, porosity, and fibrous microstructure) all interactively affect cell motility through a variety of sub-cellular mechanisms. His lab tackles this multi-variable problem through a multidisciplinary approach that includes fabrication of new matrix platforms, development of advanced measurement tools in cell biology, and construction of predictive computational models. Within this scheme, his current research program is organized around these broad topics:

Regulation of tumor cell invasion by matrix properties

Mechanical memory in cell migration

Epithelial cells in confined and heterogeneous environments

Single cell migration in mechanically diverse environments

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