Dennis E. Discher

Dennis E. Discher is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the School of Engineering and Applied Science. His primary department is Bioengineering, with secondary appointments in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics. His research focuses on the intersection of molecular and cell biology, soft matter physics, and polymer nano-engineering, particularly how mechanical forces influence cancer progression and immune responses.

• Key Research Areas:
  • CD47–SIRPα immune checkpoint blockade therapy
  • Nuclear rupture through lipid droplet strain
  • Cell confinement in solid tumors
• Laboratory Focus:
  • Mechanobiology of tumor microenvironments
  • Role of lipid droplets in nuclear damage
  • Macrophage cooperation in cancer immunotherapy

The group's recent publications highlight how mechanical strain from lipid droplets and matrix stiffness induce nuclear rupture, DNA damage, and chromosomal instability, contributing to tumor heterogeneity. They also explore engineered macrophages for tumor elimination via coordinated intrudopodia and phagocytic feedback loops. These studies integrate biophysics with cancer biology to develop novel immunotherapeutic strategies.