Research

Research field

Experimental Biophysics, Biomechanics, Microscopy

Research focus

Transmission of force is a classical physical concept applied to the study of live cell dynamics, intracellular protein translocation, and transduction of mechanical signals along intracellular pathways. Mechanical forces are important stimuli and determinants of many cell functions including contraction, proliferation, migration, and cell attachment. Relatively little is known about how cells sense and integrate mechanical forces at the molecular level to induce intracellular signaling. Thus, we are interested to study in real-time the molecular mechanisms responsible for altering the intracellular cytoskeletal force balance and the effect of mechanotransduction to the reorganization of cell-matrix adhesion sites. By using non-traditional integrative experimental approaches, we aim to gain insights into the fundamental biophysical principles of cellular adaptation to the microenvironment. We apply this biophysical approach to understand how cellular contractile dysfunction affects activation of mechanosensitive pathways involved in vessel wall pathological remodeling.