Yongho Bae

Yongho Bae, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at the Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. He is also an Affiliated Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and an affiliate of the NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology. His research bridges cell biology, bioengineering, and mechanomedicine, with a focus on how mechanical forces regulate cellular function in health and disease.

• Department: Pathology and Anatomical Sciences
• School: Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
• University: University at Buffalo
• Affiliation: Biomedical Engineering (Affiliated Associate Professor)
• NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering MechanoBiology (Affiliate Faculty)

Education:

• PhD, Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh (2010)
• MS, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University (2005)
• BS, Biotechnology, Ajou University (1998)

Dr. Bae's research centers on cell mechanics and mechanotransduction, particularly in cardiovascular biology and stem cell regulation. His work investigates how extracellular matrix stiffness influences vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) behavior in diseases like atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness. He employs advanced techniques including atomic force microscopy, traction force microscopy, optogenetics, and machine learning to study cellular responses. His lab also develops nanophotonic platforms to control stem cell differentiation using light, offering non-invasive strategies for regenerative medicine.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in understanding Survivin (BIRC5) as a central mediator of stiffness-induced cell proliferation, motility, and ECM remodeling in VSMCs. He also explores lamellipodin, FAK, and Rac signaling in mechanosensitive pathways. His work integrates transcriptomics, computational modeling, and high-resolution imaging to decode mechanobiological networks.

Scientific Awards:

• Excellence in Mentoring Award for Research (2025)
• Louis Sklarow Award (2025)
• Professional Development Award (2023)
• LeapRx Drug Discovery Incubator Program Award (2022)
• Buffalo Blue Sky Silver Coin (2019)
• American Heart Association Career Development Award (2018)
• Eugene Mindell & Harold Brody Clinical Translational Research Award (2017)
• Cell and Molecular Bioengineering Meeting: Fellow Travel Award (2015)
• American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (2013)

Dr. Bae actively mentors students and has served as a faculty mentor for undergraduate research programs. He has been the Principal Investigator on multiple NIH, NSF, and industry-funded grants, including projects on corneal endothelium, vascular matrix, and drug discovery for arterial stiffening. He is also a co-PI on NSF-funded collaborative research in neuronal network programming. His lab, the Bae Mechanobiology and Mechanomedicine Laboratory, focuses on translating mechanistic insights into therapeutic strategies. He serves on editorial boards and as a peer reviewer for journals such as APL Bioengineering, Scientific Reports, and Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, and is involved in faculty governance and admissions committees.