Alexander Bershadsky

Professor Alexander Bershadsky is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at the Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and holds the Joseph Moss Chair of Biomedical Research at the Weizmann Institute of Science. His research focuses on cell mechanics, particularly the interplay between cytoskeleton dynamics and adhesion-mediated mechanosensitivity.

• Mechanobiology Institute, NUS
• Weizmann Institute of Science

Research Highlights:

His lab discovered that focal adhesions serve as mechanosensors, with assembly regulated by external/internal forces. Current work explores microtubule regulation of cell motility, formin-mediated actin assembly, and left-right cellular asymmetry. Recent studies employed optogenetics to dissect focal adhesion disassembly and revealed distinct actin organization patterns in epithelial cells.

Publication Trends:

Recent articles emphasize mechanotransduction (2017-2025), with interdisciplinary approaches combining optogenetics, biophysics, and computational modeling. Key subfields include actin-microtubule crosstalk, filopodia mechanics, and cytoskeletal inhibitors like SMIFH2.

Awards & Leadership:

• Joseph Moss Professorial Chair (2001)
• Editorial Board Member, "Cytoskeleton" journal (2001-present)

Training Legacy:

His ABCD Lab has mentored researchers including Derek Yuen Yee Jun (Research Assistant), Kasie Au (PhD), and Salma Jalal (epithelial cell actin studies). Collaborations span institutions like Curie Institute, Woods Hole MBL, and NUS.