Our Nature Protocols cover is out!🎉 Fully synthetic PIC hydrogels provide an animal-free matrix for 3D cell culture. Congrats to Hongbo Yuan, Kaizheng Liu, and Paul Kouwer; and thanks to Hans Van Oosterwyck for the collaboration behind this beautiful cover. 🔗 nature.com/articles/s41596-025-01159-3

Still buzzing after the @cellmech2025.bsky.social conference in Leuven! It was great to connect with so many experts in mechanobiology and to be part of this close, dynamic community. We enjoyed the inspiring talks and left with plenty of new ideas.💡 Already looking forward to the next edition!

Exciting week ahead! @cellmech2025.bsky.social is looking truly incredible and we are happy to be here as @rochalab.bsky.social. Let’s share some quality science! 🔬

Hydrogels are essential in mechanobiology—and PIC is a game changer. Fully synthetic yet highly biomimetic, PIC opens new possibilities for 3D cell culture applications. Congrats to Hongbo Yuan, Kouwer Lab, and rochalab.bsky.social on this detailed Nature Protocols guide! 👏📜

🔬 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 – 𝐃𝐚𝐲 #𝟏 🔬 Exciting times in @rochalab.bsky.social and @hofkenslab.bsky.social Lab !🧪We're restarting to build microscopes, and I decided to guide two PhD students (Steven Huysecom and Toon Van Roy) through the process. #Microscopy #optics #SciComm #sts

What if tweaking nanoparticles isn’t enough to improve nanomedicine? 🧐 In our latest work, we show that tumor biology – not just particle design – affects how nanoparticles behave. Same particles. Different tumors. Totally different outcomes. 🤯 🔎 Curious? Check it out: doi.org/10.1101/2025...

✨The IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast is a wrap!✨ A big thank you to our inspiring speakers for sharing their experiences and motivating the next generation of scientists. Perfect timing to celebrate this on the International Day of Women in Science!👩🏻‍🔬 Let’s keep breaking barriers and building bonds!

If you have a passion for single-molecule super-resolution microscopy🔬, there are great news to share: the SMLMS conference series will continue this year and will be held in Bonn/Germany Aug 27th to 29th ✨- please save the date and join us, we are looking forward to meeting you there👇🏻

A reminder to colleagues interested in Cell-Matrix adhesion & anything ECM related that registration is now open for the Fibronectin, Integrins & related molecules Gordon Research Conference. Incredible list speakers! incredible location! it will 🔥 🔥 🔥 Please join us! www.grc.org/fibronectin-...

How do cells translate molecular forces into mechanical actions? 🧬🔬💪 Our new research combines Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) with FRET-based tension sensors to uncover how focal adhesions manage vinculin tension and cellular traction. Check it out: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Lab life = science, fun, and cake! 🎂🥳 Nina Anseeuw outdid herself with this lab-logo masterpiece for her birthday. Starting 2025 on a sweet note with science and great vibes! Here’s to more good times (and good science)! 🔬✨ #LabLife #Happy2025

Super proud to see the efforts of @borislouis.bsky.social being recognised – even if it has little to do with my own research 😅

Work realized with an incredible team: Chih-Hao Huang, Marc Melendez, Ana Sánchez-Iglesias,Jorge Olmos-Trigo, @sudiptaseth.bsky.social, @rochalab.bsky.social, Rafael Delgado-Buscalioni, Luis M. Liz-Marzán, Manuel I. Marqués, Hiroshi Masuhara, @hofkenslab.bsky.social, Roger Bresolí-Obach

🔬 Hydrogels Redefined 🔬 What happens when you combine polymer science with collaborative creativity? In a project driven by Dankers' group (Eindhoven) and in collaboration with Kouwer's team (Nijmegen), we explored multi-dynamic hydrogels that combine stress-stiffening and supramolecular polymers.

🔬 How does tumor stiffness affect cancer? Our latest research shows that stiffer colorectal tumors release proteins that fuel cancer cell migration and blood vessel formation, driving more aggressive tumor behavior. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

At the Rocha Lab, we work at the intersection of chemistry 🧪 and biology 🧬, developing hydrogel-based 3D cell models that mimic natural tissues. Our passion for microscopy 🔬 drives us to explore the intricate details of biological systems, pushing the boundaries of cellular research!

📸 Super proud to share the new Rocha Lab group photo! 🌟 Not everyone could make it, but here’s a glimpse of the team driving our research forward. #LabLife

Interested in an interdisciplinary PhD? Join us to explore dynamic cell-ECM interactions using advanced microscopy and nanoparticles! Be a part of the partnership program between KU Leuven and Melbourne University and travel to the other side of the world! Apply now! www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...

We are thrilled to announce that Indra Van Zundert has been awarded a prestigious FWO post-doctoral fellowship! 🎉 She will join our team in October, using 3D cell models to develop DNA origamis for gene therapy. 🧬 Can't wait to have you with us at KU Leuven!

Super proud to share the success of the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast held at @KU_Leuven! With the support of the Chemistry Department, we hosted over 60 enthusiastic participants. A big shoutout to our speakers for their openness during the Q&A session #GWB2024 #WomeninSTEM

Excited to announce that we are joining the IUPAC Global Women's Breakfast initiative. We are hosting a special lunch @KULeuven to celebrate women in chemistry. It's a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow female chemists #GWB2024

While red weather alerts sweep the nation, we're brightening up KU Leuven with Rocha Lab's creative decorations! ❄️☃️#TeamSpirit #LabLife

Best wishes for 2024!

Delighted to have hosted Hokkaido University's scientific delegation at KU Leuven for the Core-2-Core symposium yesterday! 🥳After 4 years due to COVID, it was fantastic to meet in person. Big thanks to our colleagues from Melbourne University for joining us online! 🌏

Really proud of Samantha Zaman for getting this award! Sam is doing a dual PhD between KU Leuven and Exciton Science (Melbourne University), working on developing nanoparticles for light-mediated therapies. excitonscience.com/news/sam-zam...

The Feel the Force summer school is a wrap! Big shoutout to all the participants for their interest and 'mechano-passion'. Huge thanks to the Rocha Lab & Co for their incredible support! Couldn't be happier with this awesome team!

The end of first day of our 'Feel the force' summer school ended like this. Thanks to everyone from the Rocha Lab for their help setting up! And a special thanks to prof. Jelle Hendrix for his amazing tutorial talk on FRET!

👋 Hello world! Is everyone turning blue?