Welcome to the Freeberg Research Laboratory
Our research leverages concepts from mechanobiology, tissue engineering, and cellular metabolic reprogramming to identify novel therapeutic targets.
In the Freeberg Research Lab, we study lung fibrosis (scarring), which is a devastating disease with limited therapeutic options. Understanding disease pathogenesis is critical to identifying novel drug targets. Our lab investigates how cells in the lung sense and respond to their mechanical/physical environment and how these machanosensation processes alter cellular metabolism. Our work seeks to understand how mechanotransduction interfaces with cellular metabolic reprogramming in fibrosis.
Research
Learn more about our cutting edge research
Mechanotransduction regulation of cellular metabolism in pulmonary fibrosis
Investigate the role of the mechanoreceptors and how they contribute to disease pathogenesis and cellular metabolic changes - Characterize the metabolic changes that promote fibrosis
- Investigate mechanosensor inhibition as a therapeutic target
Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Pulmonary Fibrosis
In this project, we are investigating the biomechanics and viscoelastic properties of human pulmonary fibrosis and pre-clinical mouse models using precision cut tissue and nano-indentation techniques. Additionally, we are leveraging the mechanical changes present in disease to investigate how the altered tissue mechanics drive pro-fibrotic cell phenotypes and mechanotransduction processes.
Our Team
Meet our research group
Margaret Freeberg, PhD
Principal Investigator
Margaret Freeberg, PhD
Principal Investigator
Internal Medicine & Biomedical Engineering
Valentina Santos Agreda
BME PhD Student
Valentina Santos Agreda
BME PhD Student
Biomedical Engineering
Claire Klaye
BME PhD Student
Claire Klaye
BME PhD Student
Biomedical Engineering
Publications
Learn more about our work
Recent Publications
-
Piezo2 is a key mechanoreceptor in lung fibrosis that drives myofibroblast differentiation
MAT Freeberg, SV Camus, V Robila, A Perelas, TH Thatcher, PJ Sime
The American Journal of Pathology 195 (4), 626-638 -
Transglutaminase 2 knockout mice are protected from bleomycin‐induced lung fibrosis with preserved lung function and reduced metabolic derangements
MAT Freeberg, TH Thatcher, SV Camus, L Huang, J Atkinson, W Narrow, ...
Physiological Reports 12 (12), e16012 -
Pulmonary Fibrosis–Focusing on the Future: Aspen Lung Conference 2024 Summary
MAT Freeberg, EF Redente, A Perelas, DWH Riches, DA Schwartz, ...
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology -
Mechanical feed-forward loops contribute to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
MAT Freeberg, A Perelas, JK Rebman, RP Phipps, TH Thatcher, PJ Sime
The American Journal of Pathology 191 (1), 18-25
For a complete list of Dr. Maggie Freeberg's publications, click here.
Media
Recent appearances
Contacts
Freeberg Research Lab
Maggie Freeberg, PhD - Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
Departments of Internal Medicine
And Biomedical Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
Email: margaret.freeberg@vcuhealth.org