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. Hyung-Do Kim (BE doctoral), in collaboration with Prof. Paul Matsudaira (BE, Biology and Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, MIT) and Prof. Frank Gertler (Biology, MIT) Quantitative analysis of EGFR signaling-mediated tumor cell migration in three-dimensional matrices. Development of data-driven cue-signal-response models to characterize the role of EGFR and protease signaling in 3D motility biophysics and cell-matrix interactions. Development of experimental platforms using current imaging techniques for quantitative studies of cell migration. Tharathorn (Joy) Rimchala (BE Doctoral), in collaboration with Prof. Roger Kamm (MechE/BE, MIT) Intracellular Signaling measurement and cell decision model in endothelial angiogenesis