Mechanosensation, the ability to detect mechanical forces, is essentially ubiquitous and underlies the senses of hearing, balance, touch, pain, as well as renal and cardiovascular regulation. Appropriate regulation of mechanosensation depends in large part on the mechanosensitive (MS) channels, which function as molecular switches to sense and convert mechanical stimuli into electrical or biochemical signals. Dysfunctions of MS channels have been implicated in a broad range of diseases and disorders, including cystic fibrosis, heritable hypertension, stroke, Alzheimer’s,and cardiac arrhythmia. Therefore, systematically characterizing the MS channels, and genetically or chemically modulating the behavior of these channels will contribute to the development of new therapeutics.My primary research interest is applying genetic, molecular, imaging and electrophysiological approaches to understand the molecular mechanism of MS channels gating in response to mechanical stimuli. My ultimate goals are to use these newfound knowledge to establish novel therapeutic strategies in the treatment of mechanosensation-related diseases, as well asto engineer mechanically activated nano-biosensor applicable in drug delivery, cancer therapeutics and biomedical diagnostic imaging.