Thomas H. Barker

Dr. Thomas H. Barker is Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science. His research investigates fibroblast adaptation to microenvironments during fibrosis, cancer, and tissue repair, with emphasis on mechanotransduction and extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. He directs the Matrix Biology and Engineering Lab, developing therapies targeting ECM mechanobiology.

Education includes B.S. (Oglethorpe University), M.S./Ph.D. (University of Alabama at Birmingham), and postdoctoral training at University of Washington and EPFL. Prior to UVA, he served 10 years at Georgia Tech. Research integrates protein engineering, molecular evolution, and mechanobiology to create ECM-targeted diagnostics/therapeutics for fibrosis. Key discoveries include force-dependent ECM conformational switches and Thy-1-negative fibroblast populations driving biomaterial-induced fibrosis.

Awards include NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award (2015), ASMB Young Investigator Award (2012), and AIMBE Fellowship (2017). He teaches 'Design and Innovation in Medicine' (BME 3030) and 'Advanced ECM Biology' (BME 8550). Current projects explore glutathionylation effects on fibronectin mechanics and immunofibroblast roles in scarring.