Research Line of Soft Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology

Cell Signaling in Tissue Formation and Malformation

Cell fate decisions in complex environments

The goal of our research is to uncover the fundamental molecular mechanisms that guide cell fate and tissue organization in tissue formation and disease. Coordination of cells through cell signaling is crucial for the formation of functional tissues and signaling is often deregulated in diseases, allowing cells to acquire abnormal functions and pathological remodeling of tissue architecture. The physics-chemical stimuli of the microenvironment next to biological signals influence cell fate decisions and the main goal of the research is to understand how environmental signals integrate with biological signals to regulate and coordinate cellular functions. Uncovering these regulatory principles will facilitate the development of regenerative therapies and more effective treatments against cancer.