Investigating the Mechanistic Link Between Wnt/beta-catenin and Calcium Signaling via Cytoneme-Mediated Transport

This PhD project will explore how two crucial signals in cancer cells, Wnt and calcium, interact. This project will focus on how cancer cells utilise tiny extensions called cytonemes to deliver Wnt signals, which we believe triggers a rapid surge of calcium at the contact point. The student will use advanced microscopes to observe these signals in real-time, identify the molecules connecting Wnt and calcium, and investigate how this interaction affects cancer cell growth, movement, and spread. This research is vital for understanding cancer biology and potentially discovering new treatment strategies by disrupting these signalling pathways. The work will involve detailed live-cell imaging, calcium measurement tools, genetic manipulation of cancer cells, drug treatments, and potentially the use of patient-derived organoids, all aimed at revealing how cancer cells use cytonemes to signal to regulate tumour growth.