Tom Golde

Tom Golde is a Researcher leading the Integrative Cell and Tissue Dynamics group at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), where he investigates the mechanical principles governing cellular and tissue behavior. His work bridges biophysics, bioengineering, and cancer biology through innovative experimental and theoretical approaches.

His research focuses on mechanobiology and tissue dynamics, particularly examining how mechanical forces regulate epithelial morphogenesis, tumor-stroma interactions, and biopolymer network mechanics. Key interests include stress mapping in curved tissues, microfluidic immunotherapy models, and the physics of semiflexible polymer networks. His group employs advanced techniques like microfabrication, live-cell imaging, and computational modeling to unravel how physical cues influence cellular decision-making in development and disease.

Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal trends in tumor microenvironment engineering and curved tissue mechanics, with breakthroughs in microfluidic immunotherapy testing platforms and epithelial stress mapping. Earlier work (2015-2019) established foundational principles in motor-free contractility and semiflexible polymer rheology, demonstrating how molecular crowding and filament entanglement generate biological forces without molecular motors.

Golde directs the Integrative Cell and Tissue Dynamics laboratory, which integrates biophysical experimentation with computational modeling to study cellular mechanics across scales. The group collaborates extensively with cancer biologists and clinicians to translate mechanobiological insights into therapeutic applications, particularly in immunotherapy development and tissue engineering.