Rana Ashkar, an experimental physicist originally trained in biophysics at Virginia Commonwealth University, has led major efforts to understand the dynamics and mechanics of biological membranes. His recent study, published on August 1th, 2025, uncovers an especially thrilling finding. Membrane flexibility is primarily dependent on the lipids’ packing density. This study, which carries the DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62106-0, offers new insights that could reshape the current understanding of membrane dynamics.
In collaboration with Michael Brown’s lab at the University of Arizona and Milka Doktorova’s lab at Stockholm University, Ashkar’s team conducted extensive nuclear resonance experiments alongside computational studies. These approaches allowed scientists to examine membranes down to the nanoscale and in structure. To remedy this, they developed a single set of harmonized biophysical laws to describe membrane mechanics.
Ashkar said that past theories on the order-disorder transition of membranes created a paradox in the area. He mentioned how most of these theories couldn’t really account for what we were starting to see in experiments with lipid membranes. Now, his team’s findings provide a much clearer picture. Their research further reveals the importance of lipid packing to understand membrane flexibility.
Specifically, the research looks at the influences that lipid packing and structure have on a wide range of membrane characteristics. Their insights have far-reaching implications for biophysics, molecular biology and materials science. By demystifying these enigmatic habits, Ashkar’s research answers many years of lingering questions while setting the stage for exciting new directions in research to come.
UNSW Scientia Professor Rana Ashkar said perspective is everything when it comes to studying membranes. He argues that approaching a new paradigm for understanding their behavior is necessary for moving the field forward. His findings upend long-held assumptions and invite us to dig deeper into the intricacies of membrane dynamics.
