Ticha Lab

Laboratory of Tissue Mechanobiology and Bioengineering

Research

The laboratory at the Department of Plastic Surgery focuses on preclinical and clinical research at the interface of Tissue Mechanobiology and Bioengineering. Our research aims to understand how tissues respond to mechanical and material cues, and how these responses influence disease processes and reconstructive outcomes. We combine advanced in vitro and in vivo models with patient-derived tissues and clinical data to bridge fundamental research and clinical translation.

Cancer mechanobiology

Tissue mechanics is increasingly recognized as a critical regulator of cancer development and progression. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms linking stromal remodeling and extracellular matrix stiffening to disease initiation and progression remain largely unexplored. We investigate how altered tissue mechanics regulate tumor initiation and aggressiveness. Our goal is to identify novel mechanisms and explore their potential as targets for novel therapeutic strategies.

Biomaterials

Biomaterials represent a powerful tool to support tissue repair and regeneration. However, their interaction with host tissues remains a major challenge. We investigate how biomaterial properties influence tissue responses and regenerative outcomes, with a particular focus on biodegradable implant technologies. Our goal is to understand why promising biomaterials often fail to achieve their clinical potential and develop strategies to overcome these limitations.

Plastic surgery

Translating scientific discoveries into direct improvements in patient care is an important part of our research. Through our PATREO project, we study patient-reported outcomes following reconstructive procedures to identify the factors that influence patient satisfaction and quality of life. Our goal is to generate evidence supporting patient-centered reconstructive care and guiding future innovations in reconstructive surgery. Further information is available at https://patreo.cz/en/home/

Team

Pavla Tichá, MD, MA, PhD

Principal Investigator

ORCID

ResearchGate

pavla.ticha@lf3.cuni.cz

Pavla earned her MD degree from the Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and undertook surgical training at Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden and Uniklinik RWTH Aachen. She completed a PhD in Experimental Surgery at the Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and postdoctoral training at Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco. She also graduated from Harvard Medical School’s Clinical Science Scholars Program.

Throughout her training, she developed a strong interest in bridging clinical medicine and fundamental biomedical research. Since 2023, she has held a joint academic–clinical appointment as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and University Hospital Královské Vinohrady.

Martin Žídek, MD

Lab manager

Martin earned his MD degree from the Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, and undertook surgical training at Universitätsklinikum Regensburg. He subsequently completed postdoctoral training at the Center for Bioengineering & Tissue Regeneration, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco.

He is pursuing a PhD in Experimental Surgery in the Ticha Lab, focusing on tissue mechanobiology.