Dr Joseph Hetmanski
Lecturer in Cell Biology
Heinz Wolff 113a
- Email: joseph.hetmanski@brunel.ac.uk
- Tel: +44 (0)1895 265125
Summary
I am an interdisciplinary researcher using microscopy and mathematical modelling to study how cells move, divide and transition between the two fundamental processes. I am also interested in how the local environment impacts cell migration and division, and in particular how these processes differ in physiologically relevant 3D matrix compared to traditional 2D systems. My work has applications to cancer and ageing.
I initially studied mathematics at the University of Leeds where I became interested in mathematical biology during my final year research project. I went on to do a PhD in the lab of Prof. Patrick Caswell in the Wellcome Centre for Cell Matrix Research at the University of Manchester where I combined mathematical modelling with microscopy to study how cells migrate in 3D matrix. I carried this work on as a postdoc in the Caswell lab funded by the MRC and CRUK, where I became interested in the rear retraction phase of cell migration and how membrane tension drives contractility and cell movement. I later pivoted towards cell division and the extracellular environment dependent machinery common between migration and division.
Qualifications
PhD Cell Matrix Research: 'Modelling cell migration in 3D microenvironments', University of Manchester, 2013-2017
MMath BSc, Mathematics, University of Leeds, 1st class honours, 2009-2013
Responsibility
BB1823 Practical Skills in Microscopy assessment coordinator
Open-days lab activities co-coordinator
Newest selected publications
Franken, GA., Warner, H., Cuenca-Escalona, J., Stehle, IF., van Reijmersdal, VPA., Klomp, SE., et al. (2025) 'Galectin-9 regulates dendritic cell polarity and uropod contraction by modulating RhoA activity'. Journal of Cell Biology, 224 (11). pp. e202404079. ISSN: 0021-9525
Hetmanski, JHR., Jones, MJ., Hartshorn, M., Caswell, PT. and Jones, MC. (2025) 'Differential roles of cyclin–CDK1 complexes in cell migration and invasion'. Journal of Cell Science, 138 (13). pp. 1 - 17. ISSN: 0021-9533 Open Access Link
MacDonald, E., Forrester, A., Valades-Cruz, CA., Madsen, TD., Hetmanski, JHR., Dransart, E., et al. (2025) 'Growth factor-triggered de-sialylation controls glycolipid-lectin-driven endocytosis'. Nature Cell Biology, 0 (ahead of print). pp. 1 - 31. ISSN: 1465-7392 Open Access Link
Ogene, L., Woods, S., Hetmanski, J., Lozano, N., Karakasidi, A., Caswell, PT., et al. (2024) 'Graphene oxide activates canonical TGFβ signalling in a human chondrocyte cell line via increased plasma membrane tension'. Nanoscale, 16 (11). pp. 5653 - 5664. ISSN: 2040-3364 Open Access Link
Larocque, G., Moore, DJ., Sittewelle, M., Kuey, C., Hetmanski, JHR., La-Borde, PJ., et al. (2021) 'Intracellular nanovesicles mediate α5β1 integrin trafficking during cell migration'. Journal of Cell Biology, 220 (10). pp. 1 - 17. ISSN: 0021-9525 Open Access Link