Dr. Hanna Martens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UCSF and a principal investigator at the BAKAR Aging Research Institute. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of aging, particularly how cellular mechanotransduction, senescence, and tissue integrity influence organ function over time. She combines cutting-edge single-cell technologies, advanced imaging, and computational biology to study the fundamental processes driving tissue degeneration and aging.
Originally from Germany, Dr. Martens earned her B.S. and M.S. in Molecular Biotechnology at Heidelberg University, followed by a Ph.D. in Systems Biology at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). During her doctoral research, she pioneered single-cell transcriptomics and computational modeling approaches to map lineage hierarchies in developing embryos, laying the foundation for spatial transcriptomics.
She continued at EMBL as a postdoctoral fellow, expanding her expertise in live-cell imaging, gene regulatory networks, and stem cell differentiation.In 2016, she joined the University of Padua as a postdoctoral researcher, shifting her focus toward aging biology. Her work uncovered how the progressive loss of mechanosensing in stromal cells leads to nuclear envelope instability, inflammation, and organ aging—a discovery that linked YAP/TAZ signaling, cGAS–STING activation, and tissue degeneration. This research, published in Nature, was highlighted in Science Signaling and Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology for its impact on the fields of mechanobiology and aging research.
Since joining UCSF in 2023, Dr. Martens has established a multidisciplinary lab that investigates senescent cell signaling, tissue homeostasis, and novel senotherapeutic interventions. Her team has developed a new transgenic mouse model that enables real-time tracking of how senescent cells influence their surroundings. By integrating genetic tools, high-resolution imaging, and single-cell omics, she aims to identify mechanisms that contribute to tissue decline and potential therapeutic strategies to promote healthy aging.
Throughout her career, Dr. Martens has been awarded prestigious fellowships, including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, the EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation Start-Up Grant. She has trained in top international research environments, bringing an interdisciplinary approach to studying aging and disease.Beyond the lab, Dr. Martens is passionate about collaboration, mentorship, and fostering scientific curiosity. She enjoys discussing innovative research ideas over a good coffee and is always open to exploring new ways to bridge computational and experimental biology to unravel the complexities of aging.she has combined computational and experimental techniques to address fundamental biological questions.
Beyond the lab, Dr. Martens values collaboration and mentorship, fostering an environment that encourages scientific curiosity and innovation.