Cellular Biomechanics Laboratory

The Cellular Biomechanics Laboratory works to understand how cancer spreads throughout the body and the mechanisms that tumor cells use to move in and out of the vasculature. The lab studies ways in which a tumor microenvironment affects immune cells function and immunoediting within the microcirculation, especially the role that leukocytes and endothelial cells play in tumor cells extravasation during metastasis.

Current Studies Include:

• Mechanisms of Melanoma Tumor Cell Extravasation
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Modeling of Leukocyte Facilitated Tumor Cell Adhesion in a Shear Flow
• Matrix Metalloproteinase Studies
• Tumor Cell Induced Endothelial Cell Junction Disassembly
• Cell Deformation and Adhesion Studies
• Lipid Mediated Signaling in Tumor Cell Activation
• Cell Motility and Locomotion Studies