Allen Ehrlicher

Allen Ehrlicher is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at McGill University's Faculty of Engineering, with a cross-appointment in Biomedical Engineering. He directs the Biological and Active Materials Lab focusing on the physics of cellular forces, disease-related mechanical failures, and bioinspired materials design. His lab develops innovative tools like Pattern-based Contractility Screening (PaCS) and advanced nuclear deformation microscopy.

Research interests span three core domains:

• Cell Mechanics: Investigating force generation via actin cytoskeleton dynamics, nuclear mechanotransduction, and real-time YAP signaling responses to mechanical stimuli.
• Disease Mechanisms: Studying prostate cancer metastasis through biomechanical alterations and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition mechanics.
• Biomimetic Materials: Creating nacre-inspired composites with exceptional strength/transparency using centrifugation-index matching techniques.

Recent publications emphasize nuclear mechanobiology (YAP localization under compression), high-throughput methods (PaCS for contractility measurement), and material innovations (bioinspired glass composites). The lab maintains active collaborations across McGill and internationally.