Together with chemical signals, mechanical forces form an integral part of mechanisms governing tissue morphogenesis, homeostasis, and function, and aberrations in mechanosignaling lead to developmental defects and disease. Quantitative measurements of cell and tissue mechanical properties are essential to understand a wide variety of biological phenomena, and to decipher principles of development and cancer. In this project, we will develop protocols for mechanical force quantification in organoid cultures, including micropipette aspiration assay and laser ablation. Harnessing these powerful tools will license us to entry the domain of mechanobiology and provide necessary preliminary data for further hypothesis development and applications to external grant agencies.

Publications