Dr. Elizabeth Bartolak Suki

Biography

Elizabeth Bartolak-Suki, MD, DSc, is a Research Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering at Boston University, specializing in Biomedical Engineering. She holds an MD from Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University and a DSc from Semmelweis University of Medicine. Her research is focused on cell and tissue mechanics, specifically the mechanosensitive channels, transmembrane receptors, integrins, and focal adhesions. Bartolak-Suki investigates the molecular scale and protein coupling that lead to the reorganization of focal adhesions and the cytoskeleton, which in turn influences gene expression and the production of intra- and extracellular proteins. She has developed novel techniques for manipulating and analyzing cells in dynamic environments that mimic physiological conditions. Her work also includes utilizing mechanical stimuli to regulate vascular smooth muscle cell contractility and exploring new therapeutic strategies for alcohol-related vascular malformations.

Research Interests