Lauffenburger:Cell Substratum Adhesion, Signaling, and Migration

Lauffenburger Lab

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Cell Substratum Adhesion, Signaling, and Migration Our objective here is to provide fundamental information on the relationship between adhesion molecule properties and aspects of dynamic adhesion of cells on ligand-coated biomaterials. Emphasis can range from physicochemical aspects of adhesion, to structural aspects of the materials substratum, to biological signaling processes stimulated by adhesion. A major area of work is relating both adhesion-based signaling and soluble growth factor-based signaling to the biophysical processes governing cell migration. This cell behavior function is crucial to therapies for inflammation, cancer, and wound healing as well as applications in tissue engineering. Lisa Joslin (BE doctoral), in collaboration with Prof. Steve Wiley (Pacific Northwest Laboratory) and Prof. Alan Wells (Pathology, Univ. of Pittsburgh) Quantitative experimental studies to elucidate the role and mechanism of spatially-restricted EGFR autocrine ligand signaling in governing cell migration. Hyung-Do Kim (BE doctoral), in collaboration with Prof. Paul Matsudaira (BE, Biology and Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, MIT) Quantitative engineering analysis of biophysical processes underlying three-dimensional cell motility and its implications in cancer metastasis; Interface of cell signaling and migration biophysics, particularly, the role of epidermal growth factor autocrine signaling and the associated proteases in cell-matrix interactions, adhesion and cell migration behavior; Development of experimental platforms using current imaging techniques for validation and expansion of existing migration models. Kirsty Smith (research associate) in collaboration with Prof. Alan Wells (Pathology, Univ. of Pittsburgh) Use of a 3D collagen/fibronectin matrix environment to assess specific signaling pathways and regulatory proteases that govern EGF receptor- and integrin-mediated effects on cell migration, adhesion and contraction in the context of wound repair and tumor progression. Muhammad Hamid Zaman, Ph.D (BE postdoctoral) in collaboration with Paul Matsudaira (BE, Biology and Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, MIT) Cell migration in 3D matrices using a combination of computational and imaging techniques. Also understanding cell-matrix interactions and the role of MMPs in cell migration directional persistence using theoretical and experimental methods.