Hainsworth Shin, Ph.D.

Biographical Information:

Postdoctoral Fellow (2003-2007), Department of Bioengineering and the Whitaker Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA

PhD (2003), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY

Summer Intern and Temporary Research Assistant (1999-2001), Genentech Incorporated, South San Francisco, CA

Research Interests:

The Cellular Mechanobiology and Engineering Lab focuses on the role of mechanical stresses (e.g., fluid shear, normal stresses) imposed by circulatory blood flow in regulating human biology, specifically the physiology and pathobiology of vascular cells such as the endothelium (i.e., the cells lining the blood vessel wall) and leukocytes (i.e., circulating white blood cells). For this purpose, we direct our efforts in identifying and characterizing the cellular component(s) responsible for sensing and converting imposed mechanical stresses (particularly, fluid shear stress) into a biological event, i.e. mechanotransduction. Moreover, we study how changes in the ability of these cell to sense mechanical stresses due to disease states impacts downstream cell functions and contributes to cardiovascular disease.

The objectives for the research conducted in our laboratory is two-fold: 1) to define the role of mechanics in the biology of the cell as part of a basic research initiative to investigate mechanobiology in physiology and disease and 2) to adopt an application-oriented research program that utilizes our results to develop tools and tissue engineering approaches that will lead to new strategies for studying cellular mechanobiology and for treating related diseases.

For specific details regarding our research, you are invited to peruse the publications listed below.

Selected Academic/Professional Honors:

The Zelda and David Gisser Prize , Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 2003.

Calgary Award in General Biomechanics, IV World Congress of Biomechanics, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 2002.

Sigma Xi Honorary Research Society, 1994.

Selected Recent Publications:

Shin, HY ; Simon, SI, Schmid-Schönbein, GW. “Fluid Shear-Induced Activation and Cleavage of CD18 During Pseudopod Retraction by Human Neutrophils.” Journal of Cellular Physiology, Vol. 214: pp. 528-536, 2008.

Pascarella, L; Lulic, D; Penn, AH; Alsaigh, TD; Lee, J; Shin, HY; Kapur, V; Bergan, JJ; Schmid-Schönbein, GW. “Mechanisms in Experimental Venous Valve Failure and Their Modification by MPFF.” European Journal of Vascular Surgery, Vol. 35: pp. 102-110, 2008.

Makino, A; Shin, HY; Komai; Y, Fukuda, S; Coughlin, M; Sugihara-Seki, M; Schmid-Schonbein, GW. “Mechanotransduction in Leukocyte Activation.” Biorheology, Vol. 44: pp. 221-249, 2007.

Shin, HY ; Schwartz, EA; Bizios, B; Gerritsen, ME. “Receptor-Mediated Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling Regulates Cyclic Pressure-Induced Human Endothelial Cell Proliferation.” Endothelium, Vol. 11: pp. 267-273, 2004.

Shin, HY ; Bizios, R; Gerritsen, ME. “Cyclic Pressure Modulates Endothelial Barrier Function.” Endothelium, Vol. 10: pp. 179-187, 2003.

Shin, HY ; Smith, ML; Toy, K; Williams, PM; Bizios, R; Gerritsen, ME. “VEGF-C Mediates Cyclic Pressure-Induced Endothelial Cell Proliferation.” Physiological Genomics, Vol. 11: pp. 245-251, 2002.

Shin, HY ; Gerritsen, ME; Bizios, R. “Regulation of Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis by Cyclic Pressure.” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 30: pp. 297-304, 2002.

Book Chapters:

Shin, HY ; Nagatomi, J; Bizios, R. “Responses of Bone Cells to Mechanical Stimuli.” In: Davidovitch, Z and Mah, J, (eds.), Biological Mechanisms of Tooth Eruption, Reabsorption and Replacement by Implants , Cambridge, MA, pp. 285 – 291, 1998.

Shin, HY ; Iveson, RD; Blumenstock, FA; Bizios, R. “Osteoblast Responses to Steady Shear Stress.” In: Mow, VC; Guilak, F; Tran-Son-Tay, R; Hochmuth, TM (eds.), Cell Mechanics and Cellular Engineering, Springer-Verlag, New York, NY, pp. 95-106, 1994.