Cell and tissue mechanobiology
Mechanical forces are critical regulators of cell behavior, defining whether a tissue is in a normal physiological or pathophysiological state. Our lab has established novel tools to model the complex 3D tissue ecosystem and robustly analyze the mechanical forces generated by cells and tissues as they interact with their surroundings. We examine how dynamic cell behaviors and mechanical cues shape tissue function in both health and disease.
High-throughput imaging and analysis of cell–matrix interactions reveal mechanical heterogeneity within multicellular systems at high spatiotemporal resolution. This approach enables rapid profiling of single cell and tissue-level mechanophenotypes in 3D microenvironments designed to mimic in vivo conditions.
Organ-on-a-chip technologies
Our lab fabricates custom 3D culture systems and fluidic devices to recreate physiologically relevant tissue microenvironments. We build scalable, accessible platforms that allow us to interrogate biological systems across scales — from single cells to multi-organ interfaces.
Designed to mimic physiological conditions, these organ-on-a-chip systems support live-cell imaging to monitor dynamic cell behaviors. By integrating mechanical perturbations, tissue interfaces, and spatial heterogeneity into a controlled and quantifiable framework, we use these platforms to investigate foundational principles of tissue organization, cell plasticity, and biomechanical regulation across physiological and pathological states.
Modeling Breast and Reproductive Tissue Microenvironments
We have established unique tools to reverse-engineer the breast and ovarian microenvironment. These model systems have enabled mechanistic studies of cancer progression and therapeutic response. Our approach is broadly adaptable — by tuning matrix composition, mechanical inputs, and spatial architecture, we can reconstruct biomimetic environments across organ systems to investigate diverse processes spanning development, homeostasis, inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer.
We have employed these platforms to model tumor dynamics for personalized medicine, incorporating patient-derived samples to study heterogeneity, invasion, and treatment response in context-specific tissue environments. By capturing patient-specific behaviors in real time and under controlled mechanical and biochemical conditions, these models provide a powerful tool for understanding variability in disease progression and therapeutic outcomes. We envision future treatments could be tailored to individual patients based on the unique mechanical signatures of their disease, improving clinical outcomes.
Visualizing Cell Dynamics and Plasticity in Real Time
We perform live-cell imaging to uncover how cells behave, interact, and adapt within complex 3D environments. Using time-lapse fluorescence and confocal microscopy, we capture the spatiotemporal dynamics of cell migration, invasion, growth, and phenotypic plasticity. We have established novel image analysis tools to profile the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, revealing how aberrant microenvironments and drug perturbations shift cell form and function.