معرفی
William Polacheck is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on mechanobiology, microfluidics, and cardiovascular tissue engineering, with a particular emphasis on understanding how cells interact with their physical environment. His lab develops microfluidic technologies to model human tissues and study cellular force generation and mechanotransduction. This work integrates organ-on-chip models with genome editing and stem cell technologies to identify novel drug targets for vascular diseases, cancer, and fibrosis.
Polacheck holds a Ph.D. and S.M. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT (2013, 2010) and a B.S. in Biological Engineering from Cornell University (2008). He has received awards including the NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016–2018), the Walter H. Coulter Translational Partnership Award (2018), and the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2008–2011).
His research interests span biomimetic tissue models, mechanotransduction in endothelial cells, and vascular barrier function. His articles highlight advancements in lymphatic system modeling, vascular malformation mechanisms, and engineered microvessels for clinical applications. Collaborative work includes studies on cardiac fibroblast reprogramming and tumor-vascular interactions.
Polacheck teaches courses in Biotransport (BME 315) and Bioinspired Engineering (BME 490/890). His lab maintains active grants focused on translational research, with a focus on developing tissue-engineered therapies for regenerative medicine. Ongoing projects include patient-derived matrix hydrogels and magnetic systems for studying cartilage mechanics.
Key scientific contributions include defining roles for COL3A1 in blood vessel mechanics, ROCK2/JAM-A complexes in lymphedema, and Rac1/mTORC1 pathways in vascular malformations. His lab’s innovations in organ-on-chip platforms aim to revolutionize drug discovery and disease modeling.
