at the Interface of Cell and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Bioengineering and Clinical Research.
Dr. Boris Hinz
Dr. Boris Hinz, PhD
Laboratory of Tissue Repair and Regeneration
Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science
St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health
209 Victoria Street, room #608
Toronto, ON M5B 1T8, Canada
Research Interests
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Pathobiology and biophysics of fibroblasts
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Fibrocontractive diseases, wound healing, tissue remodeling, repair and regeneration
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Cell biology, bioengineering, cell ciophysics and biomechanics, experimental pathology, experimental dermatology, theoretical biology, biomedical imaging
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The cytoskeleton: cell contraction and motility; actin isoforms and actin-associated proteins; cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts, mechano-transduction
Science Chat with Dr. Chris McCulloch
Current Positions
since 09/2021
Keenan Chair in Fibrosis Research,
St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health, Toronto, Canada
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since 09/2021
Professor, primary status appointment
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Canada
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Recognition
07/2016 - 07/2021
Distinguished Professor of Tissue Repair and Regeneration
University of Toronto, Canada
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Cross-Appointments
since 11/2022
Professor, cross-appointed
Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada
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since 06/2009
Professor, cross-appointed
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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since 06/2009
Professor, cross-appointed
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Faculty Positions
07/2014 – 08/2021
Professor
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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07/2011 – 06/2014
Associate Professor (tenured)
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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01/2009 – 06/2011
Associate Professor (tenure track)
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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03/2006 - 12/2008
Maître d'enseignement et de recherche (MER),
Laboratory of Cell Biophysics, School of Basic Sciences,
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL),
Lausanne, Switzerland
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Professional Training and Post-Graduate Education
06/2002 - 02/2006
Senior Research Scientist
Laboratory of Cell Biophysics, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
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1999 - 2002
Post-Doctoral Assistant of Prof. Giulio Gabbiani, MD, PhD
Department of Pathology, CMU,
University of Geneva, Switzerland
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1986 - 1989
Duty as Officer of the German Air Force, reserve rank: Major
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Degrees and Diplomas Obtained
1995 - 1998
PhD thesis Cell Biology / Theoretical Biology,
University of Bonn, Germany
1994
Diploma (Master) thesis in Cell Biology,
University of Bonn, Germany
1989 - 1994
Studies in Biology at the University of Bonn, Germany
2025 - and where to meet me next
Something with myofibroblasts ;). Keystone Symposia on Stromal Immunology in Health and Disease / Fibrosis: Cross Organ Pathology and Pathways to Clinical Development, February 2-6, 2026, Banff, Canada.
How mesenchymal stromal cells memorize matrix mechanics. American Society for Matrix Biology (ASMB) Biennial Meeting, November 16-19, 2025, Baltimore MD, USA
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Myofibroblasts and macrophages: two key aspects of fibrosis. Falk Foundation International Workshop: “All Aspects of Fibrosis”. October 23, 2025, Berlin, Germany.
Myofibroblast Matrix Memories of MSCs. Gordon Research Conference on Tissue Repair and Regeneration, June 1- 6, 2025, New London, NH, USA
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Extracellular Events in Dupuytren’s Disease. International Conference on Dupuytren Disease and Related Diseases, May 16-17, 2025, Brussels, Belgium
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TBD. Ludwig Boltzmann Research Group SHoW - Senescence and Healing of Wounds, University of Vienna, April 25, 2025, Vienna, Austria
TBD. Kennedy Institute Seminar Series, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, 03 March 2025, Oxford, UK
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Mechanical environment primes mesenchymal stromal cells to produce pro-inflammatory secretomes. 5th Growth Factors in Regeneration and Regenerative Medicine Conference, February 14-17, 2025, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.