FuiBoon Kai, University of Calgary

Research

Extracellular Matrix Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Actomyosin Network Age-Related Diseases Biophysical Properties Of Cells Inflammation Mechanosignaling Tissue Stiffness

Latest papers

Tissue tension permits β-catenin phosphorylation to drive mesoderm specification in human embryonic stem cells.
Developmental cell · 2026
CLIC-dependent internalization of caveolin-1 to lysosomal vacuoles in response to osmotic regulation.
Cell reports · 2026
Tension-induced organelle stress: an emerging target in fibrosis.
Trends in pharmacological sciences · 2025 · first author

All 5 publications

Latest funding

Investigating Mechanical Regulation of Transgelin Expression in Human Fibroblasts
CIHR · 2026 · Supervisor
$6,000
Human M(IL4)s as an autologous anti-colitic therapy
CIHR · 2026 · Co-investigator
$1,162,800
Unraveling the role of extracellular matrix dysregulation in age-related fibrotic and inflammatory pulmonary disease
CIHR · 2024 · Nominated PI
$480,000

All 4 grants and awards

5 publications.

01

Tissue tension permits β-catenin phosphorylation to drive mesoderm specification in human embryonic stem cells.

Ayad NME, Almsoud A, Lakins JN, Ghagre A, Ehrlicher AJ, Klein OD, Kai F, Weaver VM

Developmental cell2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2026.06.014 PMID: 42442364

02

CLIC-dependent internalization of caveolin-1 to lysosomal vacuoles in response to osmotic regulation.

Wong TH, Lima MF, Nagrath A, Li YL, Joshi B, Kai F, Nabi IR

Cell reports2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117373 PMID: 42176267

03

Tension-induced organelle stress: an emerging target in fibrosis.

Kai F, Leidal AM, Weaver VM

Trends in pharmacological sciences2025First author

DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.12.006 PMID: 39818520

04

Extracellular matrix and immune dysfunction: An overlooked relationship in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Nyaupane U, Johannson KA, Kelly MM, Kai F

Experimental lung research2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1080/01902148.2025.2582970 PMID: 41187293

05

Mechanosensitive hormone signaling promotes mammary progenitor expansion and breast cancer risk.

Northey JJ, Hayward MK, Yui Y, Stashko C, Kai F, Mouw JK, Thakar D, Lakins JN, Ironside AJ, Samson S, Mukhtar RA, Hwang ES, Weaver VM

Cell stem cell2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.12.002 PMID: 38181747

Investigating Mechanical Regulation of Transgelin Expression in Human Fibroblasts

SupervisorCIHR2026Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

Principal investigators: Gatluak, Nyathach

Keywords: Extracellular Matrix; Rigid Bone; Soft Tissues; Stiffness; Tissues

$6,000

Human M(IL4)s as an autologous anti-colitic therapy

Co-investigatorCIHR2026Project Grant

Principal investigators: McKay, Derek M; Panaccione, Remo

Keywords: Autologous Cell Transfer Therapy; Barrier Function; Extracellular Matrix (Ecm); Gut Microbiota; Il-4 Educated Human Macrophage; Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Interleukin-6; Models Of Colitis; Regulatory Macrophage

$1,162,800

Unraveling the role of extracellular matrix dysregulation in age-related fibrotic and inflammatory pulmonary disease

Nominated PICIHR2024Other: CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award-Phase 2

Principal investigators: Kai, FuiBoon

Keywords: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Extracellular Matrix;

$480,000

Unraveling the role of extracellular matrix dysregulation in age-related fibrotic and inflammatory pulmonary disease

Nominated PICIHR2023CIHR REDI Early Career Transition Award - Infectious Disease and Immune System

Principal investigators: Kai, FuiBoon

Keywords: Actomyosin Network; Age-Related Diseases; Biophysical Properties Of Cells; Extracellular Matrix; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Inflammation; Mechanosignaling; Tissue Stiffness

$180,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Extracellular Matrix Dear Professor Kai, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Tissue tension permits β-catenin phosphorylation to drive mesoderm specification in human embryonic stem cells." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Unraveling the role of extracellular matrix dysregulation in age-related fibrotic and inflammatory pulmonary disease" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

FuiBoon Kai

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Tissue tension permits &#x3b2;-catenin phosphorylation to drive mesoderm specification in human embryonic stem cells.

CLIC-dependent internalization of caveolin-1 to lysosomal vacuoles in response to osmotic regulation.

Tension-induced organelle stress: an emerging target in fibrosis.

Extracellular matrix and immune dysfunction: An overlooked relationship in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Mechanosensitive hormone signaling promotes mammary progenitor expansion and breast cancer risk.

Investigating Mechanical Regulation of Transgelin Expression in Human Fibroblasts

Human M(IL4)s as an autologous anti-colitic therapy

Unraveling the role of extracellular matrix dysregulation in age-related fibrotic and inflammatory pulmonary disease

Unraveling the role of extracellular matrix dysregulation in age-related fibrotic and inflammatory pulmonary disease

Tissue tension permits β-catenin phosphorylation to drive mesoderm specification in human embryonic stem cells.