# Development of a mechanosensitive synthetic cell for mediating intercellular communication - Diversity Supplement

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $34,047

## Abstract

Project Summary
We are requesting a Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research to
complement the parent R01 grant (R01 EB03003) entitled ‘Development of a mechanosensitive
synthetic cell for mediating intercellular communication’. The supplement funds are proposed to
support Nadab Wubshet, who is a fourth year Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the
University of Michigan. Nadab has the potential to contribute significantly to the overarching
goal of the parent grant that seeks to develop mechanosensitive synthetic cells that can sense
and respond to shear stress and secrete bioactive molecules to communicate with natural living
cells. Nadab is enthusiastic about contributing to the diversity of the University through the
various outreach/mentoring activities he participates in. As a black American, Nadab is
underrepresented in PhD programs at the University of Michigan. His success will be a catalyst
for other black Americans to pursue advanced degrees and academic research. Having grown
up in Ethiopia, his perspective will be valuable in an academic environment and will enrich our
community. We have developed a plan together for his research and career development as a
scientist during this support period and beyond. Since Nadab comes from a mathematics and
mechanical engineering background without having done research in biology prior to his PhD,
we have put in place several training activities that will continue to deepen his technical
knowledge and skills that together will help Nadab become an independent researcher. Nadab
will have an opportunity to present at a local meeting as well as at a national conference. Nadab
will investigate the effect of cortical actin on mechanosensitive synthetic cell gating and how
actin cortex influences the margination of synthetic cells in flow. He has a great interest in
microfluidics and has been studying lipid bilayer vesicles with reconstituted actin networks for
the past two years. He is eager to extend his work towards the objectives of the R01 EB03003
project and is excited to make a contribution.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10489557
- **Project number:** 3R01EB030031-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Allen Po-Chih Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $34,047
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-02 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10489557

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10489557, Development of a mechanosensitive synthetic cell for mediating intercellular communication - Diversity Supplement (3R01EB030031-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10489557. Licensed CC0.

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