Single-molecule biophysicist, CRC T2, MSFHR Scholar, building responsive DNA nanostructures to study biology. Views are my own. @fos_ubco @ubcokanagan 🇨🇦
Kelowna, BC, Canada
Joined June 2010
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How do you get a molecule to tie itself into a knot on purpose?
David in my lab used DNA’s helical structure to drive self-threading, then pulled it with optical tweezers, where the ssDNA trefoil knot tightens elastically, leaving only ~10 nt in the knot. doi.org/10.1002/anie.6529490
Excited 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. science.org/doi/10.1126/scia…
Isaac Li retweeted
@IsaacLiLab and team show that adding excess decoy DNA protects DNA-based probes from DNase degradation, preserving probe integrity for over 48 hours and enabling robust, long-term mechanobiology studies in live-cell environments #openaccess 🔓 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/…
Latest 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 - simple, general strategy for robust mechanobiology in DNase-rich environments. doi.org/10.1002/anie.2025065…
Isaac Li retweeted
Methods and Applications in Fluorescence MAF 2025 August 24-27 in Montreal Canada
Abstract deadline for talk consideration May 12
Abstract deadline for poster presentations June 2
Early Registration deadline June 25
Join us in Montreal for MAF 2025!
maf2025.org/en
Check 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! 👏
#DNAPAINT #tension #integrin #superresolution #adhesion
doi.org/10.1002/advs.2024082…
Isaac Li retweeted
The 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
Isaac Li retweeted
The 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
David 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 to the grade 6-10 classrooms! career.sd83.bc.ca/2025/03/14…
#biophysics #outreach
We just published a review on 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.2024.28
#mechanobiology
Isaac Li retweeted
Celebrate #BiophysicsWeek w/ 3 trainee-organized virtual events to connect, learn, and have fun:
🧠Trivia Night – Mar 24, 6PM ET
🎤Career + Research talk @IsaacLiLab – Mar 27, 1:30PM ET
🥖Biophysical Gastronomy – Mar 29, 2PM ET
📍Register here:
events.teams.microsoft.com/e…
The tradition continues! UBCO Chemistry pumpkin carving contest organized by the CGSS! Check them out on FIP 3rd floor! 🎃🎃🎃👻👻👻 @fos_ubco @UBCOGradstudies @bccu_ubco @UBCO_CCU
Isaac Li retweeted
Free scientific illustrations for biologists! 😍
@NIH has released a library of 500+ free scientific illustrations to create figures, presentations, and illustrations!
all freely available in the public domain.
Retweet and spread the message!
bioart.niaid.nih.gov/
Thank you @BiophysCanada, for this recognition! I'm truly honoured to be receiving this award. Huge shoutout to my fantastic team: this wouldn’t have been possible without them. We're excited to see what's coming in the next few years!
The Biophysical Society of Canada is excited to announce Dr. Isaac Li @IsaacLiLab as the 2025 Early Career Investigator Awardee! Dr. Li's work on force-responsive DNA nanostructures and force imaging methods opens new avenues in understanding cellular functions. Congratulations🎉
I am excited to share our latest work on creating the first tunable Catch-Bond with #DNA! Our Fish-Hook architecture allowed precise control of adhesion nanomechanics, creating new possibilities for bioengineering and material science! 🧬🐟🪝🌟nature.com/articles/s41467-0… #biophysics
Isaac Li retweeted
Applications received by November 15, 2024 will receive full consideration. For a full description and application instructions, see
sfu.ca/physics/about-us/empl…
(For dual-career searches, tenure-track positions in other areas of Physics will be posted to this link soon.)
Yes!!!! So proud of the 🇨🇦 Women's Soccer Team!
Through to the quarter-finals! ⚽
The defending Olympic champions have advanced after a 1-0 win over Colombia 🇨🇦
#TeamCanada | #Paris2024 | @RC_Sports #rcsports #soccer
Our work on Altering Cell Junctional Tension in Spheroids through E-Cadherin Engagement Modulation just got published! We showed that E-cad tension can be monitored and modulated using membrane-anchored DNA probes and strand-displacement reactions!
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs…
