Gardel Lab
Principal Investigator: Margaret Lise Gardel
Institution: University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Primary Subfield: Genetics/Genomics
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
Project Summary Mechanical Information Processing from Sub-cellular to Tissue Scales The mechanical behaviors of cells control diverse physiological processes including cell proliferation, migration, fate and apoptosis; these behaviors are also key contributors to pathologies such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Within multicellular tissues, cell mechanics are largely determined by feedback mechanisms, which coordinately regulate the actin cytoskeleton, cell-matrix adhesions, and cell-cell adhesions. It has become evident that cytoskeletal assemblies are complex mechanochemical systems that employ force-sensitive biochemical regulation to maintain and modulate mechanical response. While the basic architectures of these systems have been suggested, approaches are needed to understand their force-sensing and responses. This will elucidate the mechanical design principles of the cytoskeleton, enabling novel methods for the engineering of a cell or tissue’s shape and dynamics. To address this challenge, my research program leverages an innovative combination of analytical methods: cell biophysics, molecular cell biology, live cell imaging, mathematical modeling, and optogenetics…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R35GM156484-02: Mechanical Information Processing from Sub-cellular to Tissue Scales (2026)
- 1R35GM156484-01: Mechanical Information Processing from Sub-cellular to Tissue Scales (2025)
- 3R01GM143792-03S1: Instrument Supplement: Mechanisms of Mechanotransduction by LIM Domain Proteins (2024)
- 5R01GM143792-03: Mechanisms of Mechanotransduction by LIM Domain Proteins (2024)
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