CONFIRMED: Mechanical Engineering Seminar by Dr. Murtaza Wasi of Cornell University
Mechanical Engineering (MNE) SEMINAR DATE: November 8, 2024 TIME: 2pm-3:00pm ZOOM: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93361541108?pwd=TPHa75bfUcHnm4EiLvK3WqZSB6rwuu.1 (Contact scunha@umassd.edu or mrahman15@umassd.edu for the Meeting ID and PassCode) SPEAKER: Dr. Murtaza Wasi, Post Doctoral Associate Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University TOPIC: Strength in Motion - The Role of Exercise and Piezo1 in Battling Bone Metastasis in Breast Cancer ABSTRACT: One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. For patients diagnosed at early stages, the five-year survival rate is as high as 99%. However, the survival rate is drastically reduced when breast cancer metastasizes to distant organs such as bones. Metastatic breast cancer disrupts bone homeostasis, leading to osteolytic lesions and increased fracture risk. Standard cancer treatments like chemotherapy often result in further bone loss due to their adverse skeletal effects. In contrast, exercise has emerged as a safe intervention for cancer patients, improving the overall health and mental wellness as well as the survival for breast cancer patients. Given that the average age of breast cancer diagnosis is 62 years old, and that bones' responses to exercise diminish with aging, additional interventions are needed to maintain the patient's skeletal health by countering the effects from aging, breast cancers, and cancer treatments. An exciting novel target comes from the newly discovered mechanosensitive Piezo1 ion channels, which are shown to be essential for loading-induced bone formation and counter age-associated bone loss. In particular, the specific Piezo1 agonist, Yoda1, presents a potential adjunct therapy alongside exercise. This talk will focus on the investigation of whether Yoda1-augmented exercise can mitigate bone loss associated with aging, metastatic breast cancer, and chemotherapy. The aim is to provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for mitigating bone loss afflicting breast cancer patients and survivors. BIO: Dr. Murtaza Wasi is a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University's Lewis Lab, where he explores the dynamic field of bone mechanotransduction. His work centers on osteocyte mechanobiology and the preservation of skeletal health in aging and disease. Prior to joining Cornell, he completed his MS and PhD from Dr. Liyun Wang's Lab in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware. He completed his undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2018. His research aims to unlock new insights on osteocyte mechanobiology and how bones respond to mechanical cues, with a focus on aging and bone-related diseases. For more information, please contact Habibor Rahman, PhD, MNE Seminar Coordinator (mrahman15@umassd.edu). All are welcome. Students taking MNE-500 are REQUIRED to attend! All other MNE students are encouraged to attend. EAS students are also encouraged to attend.
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Mechanical Engineering Department
508.999.8492
https://umassd.zoom.us/j/93361541108?pwd=TPHa75bfUcHnm4EiLvK3WqZSB6rwuu.1