Dr. Meenal Datta is an Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame and leader of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment Mechanics (TIME) Lab. She discusses how mechanical forces within tumors shape cancer progression and immune responses, with a focus on glioblastoma. She highlights how immunomechanics and mechanobiology influence tumor growth, treatment resistance, and immune cell function, and explores how space-based research and microgravity models can uncover new insights and therapeutic strategies for cancer.

Why the Heart Resists Cancer – Researchers have discovered that mechanical load in the heart suppresses cancer cell proliferation via mechanotransduction and chromatin remodeling.

HOTSCRAMBL Shapes Stem Cell Fate – A genetic variant disrupts the lncRNA HOTSCRAMBL, reducing HSC self-renewal and impairing leukemia growth.

AI-Driven Drug Repurposing – Deep learning and organoid screening identified azole drugs that rescue neuronal defects in Leigh syndrome.

Modeling the Menstrual Cycle – An organoid-based model recreates the menstrual cycle and identifies WNT7A as key for endometrial regeneration.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Meenal Datta.

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