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Staff Profiles

Dr. Syeda Naqvi

B.Sc., M.Sc., PhD

Contact Details

Research Fellow
School of Engineering
University of Galway
E: syeda.masoomanaqvi@universityofgalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr. Syeda Masooma Naqvi joined the Mechanobiology and Medical Device Research Group in October 2017 after earning her PhD from the renowned Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Her doctoral research focused on investigating environmental conditions conducive to stem cell-based regeneration of the intervertebral disc.Before her PhD, Dr. Naqvi completed an MSc in Clinical Research at the University of Galway, where she also earned her BSc in Biomedical Science. After obtaining her PhD in Biomedical Engineering, she returned to the University of Galway as a Postdoctoral Researcher, broadening her expertise into bone disease. During this time, she developed a simplified 3D in vitro osteocyte model replicating the mechanical environment in vivo to study how osteocytes detect and respond to mechanical signals, particularly in postmenopausal osteoporosis. This innovative research garnered significant attention, including a Spotlight Session presentation at the Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting 2020.Recently, Dr. Naqvi advanced her work by creating sophisticated in vitro models that mimic the intricate multicellular (osteocytes, osteoblasts, vascularization, macrophages, progenitors) and mechanical (hydrostatic pressure, compression/perfusion) dynamics of the bone environment during postmenopausal osteoporosis. Her groundbreaking research was nationally recognized as the Best Overall Paper at the 27th Bioengineering in Ireland Annual Meeting 2022, earning her the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland Bronze Medal.Dr. Naqvi's other significant contributions include exploring the combined effects of matrix stiffness (mimicking bone marrow) and breast cancer-bone cell signaling on spheroid formation. Her findings demonstrated that higher matrix stiffness significantly reduces spheroid size, an insight she presented at the 6th World Congress of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) 2021. This presentation was part of the "Developing Biomimetic (Micro)Physiological Platforms for Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering" session.Dr. Naqvi has recently developed a keen interest in cancer stem cell mechanobiology, focusing on breast cancer. She investigates how stiffness changes in the tumor microenvironment influence a subpopulation of cancer cells with stem-cell-like properties, which are pivotal in carcinogenesis and contribute to tumor heterogeneity. Her hypothesis is supported by differential spheroid sizes observed under varying stiffness conditions. To further this research, she has successfully secured grants, including the Athena Swan Research Capacity Building Grant. Dr. Naqvi's innovative work continues to push boundaries in mechanobiology, tissue engineering, and cancer research.
Link to publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=h6Yum-IAAAAJ&hl=en

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
Investigating the Role of Biophysical and Biomechanical Factors in Breast Cancer Stemness: Implications for Novel Mechano-therapeutics and Ex Vivo Models. 01-SEP-23 31-AUG-25
Mechanobiological role in cancer stemness, drug resistance, and metastatic dissemination 17-NOV-22 16-DEC-23
Breast cancer stem cell response to changes in stiffness and mechanical stimulation. 01-OCT-22 30-SEP-23

Contract Researchers

  Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
Zara Herbert Breast cancer stem cell response to changes in stiffness and mechanical stimulation. Summer Scholar
MOFEHINTIOLUWA AKINYEMI Mechanobiological role in cancer stemness, drug resistance, and metastatic dissemination Summer Scholar
Sailakshmi Senthilkumar Investigating the Role of Biophysical and Biomechanical Factors in Breast Cancer Stemness: Implications for Novel Mechano-therapeutics and Ex Vivo Models. Research Assistant

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2024) 'Altered extracellular matrix and mechanotransduction gene expression in rat bone tissue following long-term estrogen deficiency'
Syeda Masooma Naqvi, Laura M O¿Sullivan, Hollie Allison, Vincent J Casey, Jessica Schiavi-Tritz, Laoise M McNamara (2024) 'Altered extracellular matrix and mechanotransduction gene expression in rat bone tissue following long-term estrogen deficiency'. Jbmr Plus, 8 (9) [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'A mechanobiological model of bone metastasis reveals that mechanical stimulation inhibits the pro-osteolytic effects of breast cancer cells'
Vatsal Kumar, Syeda M Naqvi, Anneke Verbruggen, Eoin McEvoy, Laoise M McNamara (2024) 'A mechanobiological model of bone metastasis reveals that mechanical stimulation inhibits the pro-osteolytic effects of breast cancer cells'. Cell Reports, 43 (5) [Details]
(2020) 'Stem Cell Mechanobiology and the Role of Biomaterials in Governing Mechanotransduction and Matrix Production for Tissue Regeneration'
Naqvi SM;McNamara LM; (2020) 'Stem Cell Mechanobiology and the Role of Biomaterials in Governing Mechanotransduction and Matrix Production for Tissue Regeneration'. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 8 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'A Novel 3D Osteoblast and Osteocyte Model Revealing Changes in Mineralization and Pro-osteoclastogenic Paracrine Signaling During Estrogen Deficiency'
Naqvi, SM;Perez, JAP;Kumar, V;Verbruggen, ASK;McNamara, LM (2020) 'A Novel 3D Osteoblast and Osteocyte Model Revealing Changes in Mineralization and Pro-osteoclastogenic Paracrine Signaling During Estrogen Deficiency'. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 8 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'In vitro co-culture and ex vivo organ culture assessment of primed and cryopreserved stromal cell microcapsules for intervertebral disc regeneration'
Naqvi SM;Gansau J;Gibbons D;Buckley CT; (2019) 'In vitro co-culture and ex vivo organ culture assessment of primed and cryopreserved stromal cell microcapsules for intervertebral disc regeneration'. European Cells & Materials, 37 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Priming and cryopreservation of microencapsulated marrow stromal cells as a strategy for intervertebral disc regeneration'
Naqvi SM;Gansau J;Buckley CT; (2018) 'Priming and cryopreservation of microencapsulated marrow stromal cells as a strategy for intervertebral disc regeneration'. Biomedical Materials, 13 (3) [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Living Cell Factories - Electrosprayed Microcapsules and Microcarriers for Minimally Invasive Delivery'
Naqvi, SM;Vedicherla, S;Gansau, J;McIntyre, T;Doherty, M;Buckley, CT (2016) 'Living Cell Factories - Electrosprayed Microcapsules and Microcarriers for Minimally Invasive Delivery'. Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), 28 :5662-5671 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Response to Intervertebral Disc-Like Matrix Acidity and Oxygen Concentration'
Naqvi, SM;Buckley, CT (2016) 'Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Response to Intervertebral Disc-Like Matrix Acidity and Oxygen Concentration'. Spine, 41 :743-750 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Differential Response of Encapsulated Nucleus Pulposus and Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Isolation and Coculture in Alginate and Chitosan Hydrogels'
Naqvi, SM;Buckley, CT (2015) 'Differential Response of Encapsulated Nucleus Pulposus and Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Isolation and Coculture in Alginate and Chitosan Hydrogels'. Tissue Engineering Part A, 21 :288-299 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Enhancing cell migration in shape-memory alginate-collagen composite scaffolds: In vitro and ex vivo assessment for intervertebral disc repair'
Guillaume, O;Naqvi, SM;Lennon, K;Buckley, CT (2015) 'Enhancing cell migration in shape-memory alginate-collagen composite scaffolds: In vitro and ex vivo assessment for intervertebral disc repair'. Journal Of Biomaterials Applications, 29 :1230-1246 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Extracellular matrix production by nucleus pulposus and bone marrow stem cells in response to altered oxygen and glucose microenvironments'
Naqvi, SM;Buckley, CT (2015) 'Extracellular matrix production by nucleus pulposus and bone marrow stem cells in response to altered oxygen and glucose microenvironments'. Journal Of Anatomy, 227 :757-766 [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2022) TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
Syeda Masooma Naqvi, Vatsal Kumar, Laoise McNamara (2022) MECHANOBIOLOGICALLY MIMETIC MODEL SYSTEMS OF HEALTHY AND METASTATIC BONE TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A , pp.S407-S408 [Details]
(2018) Orthopaedic Proceedings
SM Naqvi, JAP Perez, LM McNamara (2018) MECHANOBIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF OSTEOBLASTS IN 3D HYDROGEL UNDER OESTROGEN WITHDRAWAL AND MECHANICAL STIMULATION Orthopaedic Proceedings [Details]
(2015) TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
SM Naqvi, J Gansau, CT Buckley (2015) Cryopreservation of Primed Microencapsulated Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cells using Electrohydrodynamic Spraying for on Demand Minimally Invasive Tissue Regeneration of the Intervertebral Disc TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A [Details]
(2015) TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
SM Naqvi, CT Buckley (2015) Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells in Response to Intervertebral Disc-Like Matrix Acidity-Implications for Cell-Based Regenerative Therapy TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A [Details]
(2014) JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
SM Naqvi, C Buckley (2014) Response of bone marrow-derived stem cells cultured in intervertebral disc-like microenvironmental conditions JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE [Details]
(2014) JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
L Kelly, O Guillaume, SM Naqvi, A Robinson, C Buckley (2014) Cell microencapsulation using electrohydrodynamic spraying for minimally invasive tissue repair JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2023 Best Mechanobiology Research Oral Presentation Mature Research Category Bioengineering in Ireland
2022 Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland (RAMI) Bronze Medal Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland (RAMI)
2019 Best Group Presentation Biomechanics Winter Collisions Symposium
2014 'Thesis in 3' - Best Presentation Trinity Centre for Bioengineering Winter Symposium
2013 Student Travel Bursary Award Bioengineering in Ireland

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
European Society of Biomechanics Member 30-JUN-24 /
European Association for Cancer Research Member 01-SEP-23 /
New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) Member 01-APR-21 / 31-MAR-22
Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Member 01-SEP-19 / 31-AUG-23
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society(TERMIS) Member 01-SEP-12 / 31-DEC-21
European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS) Member 01-SEP-18 / 31-AUG-19

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Biomedical Engineering (BME) Laboratory Operation Committee Member /
Engineering Safety Committee Member /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
National University of Ireland Galway Postdoctoral Researcher 01-OCT-17 /
University of Galway Research Fellow 01-JUN-24 /
Trinity College Dublin Project Manager 03-OCT-16 / 31-JAN-17
University Hospital Galway MSc Student Research Fellow 01-NOV-09 / 29-FEB-12

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2016 Trinity College Dublin PhD Biomedcial Engineering
2011 National University of Ireland Galway MASTERS OF SCIENCE Clinical Research
2009 National University of Ireland Galway BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Biomedical Sciences

Languages

  Language
Persian
Gaeilge
French
Hindi
English

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2025 Diana Meriakri MASTER OF ENGINEERING
2023 Sailakshmi Senthilkumar M.Sc in Regenerative Medicine Y
2020 Ciara Joyce MSc in Biomedical Science
2019 Jyotsna Dhanyasi (Claudia) MSc in Biomedical Science
2018 Vatsal Kumar MASTER OF ENGINEERING

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2022/2023 Biomedical Engineering Physiology BME3133 Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology
2022/2023 Principles of Biomaterials BME328 Foreign Body Response, Biomaterials Surface Properties, Soft and Hard Tissue Implants, Blood Contacting Implants, Biomaterial Infections, Sterilisation Methods, Additive and Subtracting Manufacturing, Bioprinting, Composite Biomaterial, Decellularized Matrices
2021/2022 Introduction to Biomaterials BME200 Cells and Tissue, The Extracellular Matrix, Biological Characterisation of Biomaterials, Biomaterial Biodegradation, Introduction to Scaffolds and Tissue Engineering
2019/2020 Mechanobiology BME510 Stem Cell Mechanobiology; Cancer Mechanobiology

Internal Collaborators

  Name Description of Collaboration
Dr. Roisin Dwyer
Professor Aoife Lowery