Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 10/09/2026Hengfeng & Micah published a review on artificial catch bonds. We identified parameter regimes associated with diff biological functions. This field is moving from discovering catch bonds in biology to engineering them as programmable building blocks for adaptive materials! doi.org/10.1002/syst... 010
Reposted by Isaac LiBiophysical Society of Canada @biophyscanada.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Nominations are open for 3 Biophysical Society of Canada awards: 🏅 BSC Fellow 🔬 Early Career Investigator Award 🤝 Michèle Auger Service Award The nomination deadline for all three awards is August 1 Award details and nomination requirements: biophysicalsociety.ca/awards/ 022
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Gonna be a few days of exciting Mechanobiology at ISMB meeting @ SynSci 2026 in Glasgow!! 020
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 05/07/2026Using DNA tension gauge tethers, we showed that LFA-1/ICAM-1 adhesion forces help regulate NK cell activation. Increasing tension promotes DNAM-1/LFA-1 colocalization and perforin polarization, suggesting that NK cells use forces to tune their cytotoxic responses. doi.org/10.1039/d6ra... 020
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 22/06/2026Excited to share our Science Advances paper introducing Tether Force Spectroscopy: flow-stretched DNA "sails" that pull on molecules and read out single-molecule behaviour by fluorescence. No beads. Huge thanks to Adam, Ryan and the team. Check out the paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... 094
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 12/01/2026Our latest work on directional DNA hairpin 🧬 unzipping and mechanical anisotropy is out! Same sequence, different mechanical properties! By sequence design we can turn a classic two state folder into a soft, compliant molecule 🧸 that visit a stable transient ensemble! Have fun with the box!📦 061
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 18/09/2025We just uploaded a preprint on a new massively parallel single-molecule force spectroscopy method. No beads, no messy calibration - just pure DNA tethers pulling individual molecules while we watch them in real-time with fluorescence. Check it out: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 062
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 25/06/2025Latest from the lab: 🧬 Decoy DNA 🧬 can extend the lifetime of DNA-based tension probes >24h by outcompeting DNases and preserving signal integrity in live-cell tension imaging. This is a simple, general strategy for robust mechanobiology in DNase-rich environments. doi.org/10.1002/anie... 150
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 24/06/2025Wonderful visit to the University of Lethbridge -many thanks to Trushar @trushar7.bsky.social and Dylan for the kind hosting! Great discussions with researchers at the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department! 👍 031
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 24/05/2025Taking the group out for fun outside of the #BSC2025 @biophyscanada.bsky.social annual meeting, visited Niagara Falls, ran into a filming of a featured film, good times! 010
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 24/05/2025Congratulations 🎉 to Ryan, David, and Irving for winning two poster and a travel award at the @biophyscanada.bsky.social annual meeting! 👏 000
Reposted by Isaac LiBiophysical Society of Canada @biophyscanada.bsky.social · 24/05/2025Congratulations to all the trainee award winners at the BSC 2025! 031
Reposted by Isaac LiBiophysical Society of Canada @biophyscanada.bsky.social · 24/05/2025The 10th BSC annual meeting just wrapped up. We sincerely thank Cecile Fradin and the team of local organizers and volunteers at McMaster for making this a successful event! Looking forward to next year in Winnipeg! 011
Reposted by Isaac LiSFU Faculty of Science @sfuscience.bsky.social · 29/04/2025Congratulations to @sfuphysics.bsky.social professor Nancy Forde who has received the @canadianphysicists.bsky.social Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, recognizing her innovative teaching methods, curriculum development and undergraduate research mentorship. cap.ca/programs/rec... 063
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 18/04/2025Check out our recent progress using 🧬 PAINT kinetics to decode molecular tension in super-resolution force imaging! 🔬 Great team effort from Seongho, Adam, Irving, and Kevin! 👏 #DNA-PAINT #tension #integrin #superresolution #adhesion doi.org/10.1002/advs...doi.orgQuantitative Super‐Resolution Imaging of Molecular TensionQuantitative tension PAINT (qtPAINT) is a new method to quantify molecular tension at super-resolution by exploiting force-dependent DNA oligonucleotide dissociation kinetics. Combining hairpin tensi.... 12410
Reposted by Isaac LiBiophysical Society of Canada @biophyscanada.bsky.social · 02/04/2025The 10th annual BSC meeting is coming up in Hamilton! Don't miss the April 15 deadline for early registration, abstract submission, and travel awards. Details & program: event.fourwaves.com/bsc2025/ #BSC2025 021
Reposted by Isaac LiBiophysical Society of Canada @biophyscanada.bsky.social · 02/04/2025The 10th annual meeting of the Biophysical Society of Canada will be held May 20-23 at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. Check out the speaker lineup and programs here: event.fourwaves.com/bsc2025/ Early registration and abstract submission deadlines are April 15. #BSC2025 041
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 15/03/2025David Bakker from my group is talking to middle school students about our research on DNA and optical tweezers!🧬Great job, David, for bringing the latest science from UBCO to the grade 6-10 classrooms! career.sd83.bc.ca/2025/03/14/f... #biophysics #outreach @ubcokanagan.bsky.socialcareer.sd83.bc.caFrom SAS to Biochemistry and BackFormer Salmon Arm Secondary student David Bakker (left) and Grade 10 JL Jackson student Sabrina Wilson (right) demonstrate what happens when DNA strings are stretched while Teacher David Hollatz wa… 040
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 12/03/2025We just published a review of the very recent progress in integrin force loading rate measurement using various molecular tension probes. Learn more about how this has advanced the field and what potential improvement lies ahead here: doi.org/10.1017/qrd.... #mechanobiology #integrin #tensionprobes 040
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 15/02/2025Heading to @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social for #bps2025! Looking forward to catching up with everyone! 020
Reposted by Isaac LiJim Haseloff @jimhaseloff.bsky.social · 21/12/2024A online environment for playing interactively with reaction-diffusion systems from Karl Sims karlsims.com/rdtool.html 16913
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 17/12/2024Interesting read of the day: Confronting risks of mirror life www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...science.orgConfronting risks of mirror lifeBroad discussion is needed to chart a path forward. 000
Reposted by Isaac LiScience News @scinews.bsky.social · 30/11/2024Not a new paper, but still helps (1/2) PhD survival guide @embopress.org #PhD #PhDlife #academics #scisky #medsky 626946
Isaac Li @isaacli.bsky.social · 15/11/2024Coffee…made Matlab…opened Meetings…none It’s gonna be a great day! 160