The push and pull of cell mechanics: defining a new mechanotransduction pathway regulating cellular interactions with the extracellular environment

Fibroblasts are dynamic regulators of tissue development, structure and homeostasis. Inappropriate activation of fibroblasts centrally contributes to the pathophysiology of cancer and fibrotic disease. We have discovered a new Rho GTPase effector pathway, which provides a pivotal link between extracellular mechanical cues and cellular behaviour; the molecular mechanisms remain obscure. In this exciting project, we will combine state-of-the-art genetic models, coupled with biophysical techniques and advanced live-cell microscopy, to understand how this novel pathway regulates cellular mechanics. This interdisciplinary study provides a unique opportunity to explore how cells sense and respond to the physical world, with significant impact for disease.