Dr Stefaan Verbruggen

Stefaan Verbruggen
PhD Biomedical Engineering

Lecturer in Medical Technology
CPM Lead for International Engagement and Social Media

School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London
www.stefaanverbruggen.com
ResearcherID ORCID Google Scholar LinkedIn

Research

Mechanobiology, Computational Modelling, Bone Biomechanics, Cancer, Development, Metastasis

Underpinning Bioengineering, Cancer Models, Musculoskeletal Models

Interests

Dr Verbruggen's research focuses on the musculoskeletal system and metastatic cancer, particularly mechanobiology and resulting cross-talk between cells. Dr Verbruggen also has significant experience in complex multi-scale and multi-physics modelling, and is interested in collaborating to model mechanical microenvironments on in vitro microfluidics and chip devices.

Publications

solid heart iconPublications of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models

2024

Allen O, Knight MM and Verbruggen SW (2024). Air Pollution and Osteoporosis. Springer Science and Business Media LLC  Current Osteoporosis Reports   
Morley EJ, Brockett CL and Verbruggen SW (2024). Analytical and computational studies predict negligible risk of cell death from eddy generation off flat surfaces in cell culture flow systems. Frontiers  Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology  vol. 12, 1340653-1340653.  
Verbruggen SW, Freeman CL and Freeman FE (2024). Utilizing 3D Models to Unravel the Dynamics of Myeloma Plasma Cells’ Escape from the Bone Marrow Microenvironment. MDPI  Cancers  vol. 16, (5)  
Verbruggen SW (2024). Role of the osteocyte in bone metastasis – The importance of networking. Elsevier  Journal of Bone Oncology  vol. 44,  

2023

Verbruggen SW, Nolan J, Duffy MP, Pearce OMT, Jacobs CR and Knight MM (2023). A Novel Primary Cilium‐Mediated Mechanism Through which Osteocytes Regulate Metastatic Behavior of Both Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells. Wiley  Advanced Science  vol. 11, (2) 2305842-2305842.  
Verbruggen SW, Sittichokechaiwut A and Reilly GC (2023). Osteocytes and Primary Cilia. Springer  Current Osteoporosis Reports   
Asbai-Ghoudan R, Nasello G, Pérez MÁ, Verbruggen SW, Ruiz de Galarreta S and Rodriguez-Florez N (2023). In silico assessment of the bone regeneration potential of complex porous scaffolds. Elsevier  Computers in Biology and Medicine  vol. 165,  
Sutton MM, Duffy MP, Verbruggen SW and Jacobs CR (2023). Osteoclastogenesis Requires Primary Cilia Disassembly and Can Be Inhibited by Promoting Primary Cilia Formation Pharmacologically. Karger Publishers  Cells Tissues Organs  vol. 213, (3) 235-244.  
Nolan J, Pearce OMT, Screen HRC, Knight MM and Verbruggen SW (2023). Organ-on-a-Chip and Microfluidic Platforms for Oncology in the UK. MDPI  Cancers  vol. 15, (3)  

2021

Schurman CA, Verbruggen SW and Alliston T (2021). Disrupted osteocyte connectivity and pericellular fluid flow in bone with aging and defective TGF-β signaling. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America  vol. 118, (25) e2023999118-e2023999118.  
Verbruggen SW, Thompson CL, Duffy MP, Lunetto S, Nolan J, Pearce OMT, Jacobs CR and Knight MM (2021). Mechanical Stimulation Modulates Osteocyte Regulation of Cancer Cell Phenotype. MDPI  Cancers  vol. 13, (12)  

2018

Verbruggen SW, Kainz B, Shelmerdine SC, Arthurs OJ, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2018). European Society of Biomechanics S.M. Perren Award 2018: Altered biomechanical stimulation of the developing hip joint in presence of hip dysplasia risk factors. Elsevier  Journal of Biomechanics  vol. 78, 1-9.  
Verbruggen SW, Kainz B, Shelmerdine SC, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Arthurs OJ, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2018). Stresses and strains on the human fetal skeleton during development. The Royal Society  Journal of The Royal Society Interface  vol. 15, (138)  
Verbruggen SW (2018). Mechanobiology in health and disease. 
Dolan EB, Verbruggen SW and Rolfe RA (2018). Techniques for studying mechanobiology. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease  
Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2018). Bone mechanobiology in health and disease. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease  
Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2018). Chapter 6 Bone mechanobiology in health and disease. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease  Elsevier   
Dolan EB, Verbruggen SW and Rolfe RA (2018). Chapter 1 Techniques for studying mechanobiology. Mechanobiology in Health and Disease  Elsevier   

2017

Verbruggen SW, Oyen ML, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2017). Function and failure of the fetal membrane: Modelling the mechanics of the chorion and amnion. PLoS One  vol. 12, (3) e0171588-e0171588.  
Verbruggen SW and Nowlan NC (2017). Ontogeny of the Human Pelvis. Wiley  The Anatomical Record  vol. 300, (4) 643-652.  

2016

Giorgi M, Verbruggen SW and Lacroix D (2016). In silico bone mechanobiology: modeling a multifaceted biological system. Wiley  WIREs Mechanisms of Disease  vol. 8, (6) 485-505.  
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2016). Mechanisms of osteocyte stimulation in osteoporosis. Elsevier  Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials  vol. 62, 158-168.  

2015

Verbruggen SW, Loo JHW, Hayat TTA, Hajnal JV, Rutherford MA, Phillips ATM and Nowlan NC (2015). Modeling the biomechanics of fetal movements. Springer Nature  Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology  vol. 15, (4) 995-1004.  
Verbruggen SW, Garrigle MJM, Haugh MG, Voisin MC and McNamara LM (2015). Altered Mechanical Environment of Bone Cells in an Animal Model of Short- and Long-Term Osteoporosis. Elsevier  Biophysical Journal  vol. 108, (7) 1587-1598.  

2014

Vaughan TJ, Mullen CA, Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2014). Bone cell mechanosensation of fluid flow stimulation: a fluid–structure interaction model characterising the role integrin attachments and primary cilia. Springer Nature  Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology  vol. 14, (4) 703-718.  

2013

Vaughan TJ, Verbruggen SW and McNamara LM (2013). Are all osteocytes equal? Multiscale modelling of cortical bone to characterise the mechanical stimulation of osteocytes. Wiley  International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering  vol. 29, (12) 1361-1372.  
Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2013). Fluid flow in the osteocyte mechanical environment: a fluid–structure interaction approach. Springer Nature  Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology  vol. 13, (1) 85-97.  

2012

Verbruggen SW, Vaughan TJ and McNamara LM (2012). Strain amplification in bone mechanobiology: a computational investigation of the in vivo mechanics of osteocytes. The Royal Society  Journal of The Royal Society Interface  vol. 9, (75) 2735-2744.  

Grants

solid heart iconGrants of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models
solid heart iconOrgan-chip Facility: A world-class in vitro models facility for the UK community, reducing the barriers to adoption to drive animal replacement
Hazel Screen, Stefaan Verbruggen, Martin Knight, Julia Shelton, Timothy Hopkins and John Connelly
£573,537 NC3Rs National Center for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (07-10-2024 - 14-03-2025)
solid heart iconMicrobiome-Bone Chip
Stefaan Verbruggen and Ravinash Krishna Kumar
£117,511 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (01-04-2024 - 31-03-2025)