S12PP: Manipulating Cellular Microenvironments

ID：MPS/DMR/BMAT(7623)1202981 PI：Dillen，J.A.ORG：材料研究会标题：2012年春季MRS研讨会PP：操纵细胞微环境内在优点：细胞微环境通过指导干细胞命运和组织结构在正常发育中发挥关键作用，但它也可能在肿瘤进展和转移等病理过程中起作用。随着材料科学家和工程师很好地促进我们对复杂生物系统的理解，解构细胞微环境的跨学科方法的必要性得到了越来越广泛的认识。研讨会将概述当前的研究，旨在确定复杂的生物成分如何共同作用来塑造生理结果，并开发用于临床应用的操纵这些过程的策略。这些例子将展示工程学原理如何非常适合于促进我们对生物学的理解，以及跨学科研究在处理复杂生物系统方面的力量。这次研讨会的目标是通过将具有共同生物学兴趣的研究人员聚集在一起，即了解细胞微环境，扩大参与并促进新的互动。通过纳入一个共同的生物学主题，研究人员将获得更广泛的视角，了解不同类型的化学和机械线索如何影响细胞，以及收集这些信息的技术。由于研讨会将讨论的技术种类繁多，将有许多机会引起更广泛的材料科学界的兴趣，例如微流体、纳米材料、聚合物。更广泛的影响：研讨会提供了一个高度互动的项目，促进了新合作发展的想法和机会的分享。它吸收了生物界和工程界的研究人员的观点，以改善他们之间的交流，并为今后的工作制定和完善战略。组织者也对追求NSF的优先事项给予了极大的关注。妇女和其他任职人数不足的群体是特邀发言者名单的主要组成部分，以鼓励工程界的多样性。在16位受邀发言者中，总共至少有13位是妇女和/或少数群体。NSF的资金将用于支持两名初级教员、两名博士后、四名研究生和两名本科生的出席。

ID: MPS/DMR/BMAT(7623) 1202981 PI: Dillen, J. A. ORG: Materials Research SocietyTitle: Spring 2012 MRS Symposium PP: Manipulating Cellular MicroenvironmentsINTELLECTUAL MERIT: The cellular microenvironment plays a crucial role in normal development by guiding stem-cell fate and tissue organization, but it may also contribute to pathological processes such as tumor progression and metastasis. The need for interdisciplinary approaches for deconstructing the cellular microenvironment is becoming more widely recognized, with materials scientists and engineers well positioned to advance our understanding of complex biological systems. The symposium will provide an overview of current research aimed at determining how complex biological components work together to shape physiological outcomes and to develop strategies for manipulating these processes for clinical applications. These examples will demonstrate how engineering principles are well suited for advancing our understanding of biology and the power of interdisciplinary research for tackling complex biological systems. The goal of this symposium is to expand participation and promote new interactions by bringing together researchers with a common biological interest, namely, understanding cellular microenvironments. By including a common biological theme, researchers will gain a broader perspective of the ways in which different types of chemical and mechanical cues influence cells and the techniques that enable that information to be collected. Due to the variety of techniques that will be discussed within the symposium, there will be numerous opportunities to capture the interest to the broader materials science community, e.g., microfluidics, nanomaterials, polymers. BROADER IMPACTS: The symposium provides a highly interactive program that promotes the sharing of ideas and opportunities for development of new collaborations. It brings to bear the perspectives of researchers from both the biological and engineering communities in order to improve communication between them and to develop and refine strategies for going forward. The organizers have also given significant attention to pursuit of NSF priorities. Women and other underrepresented groups are a predominant component of the invited speaker list in order to encourage diversity within the engineering community. Altogether at least 13 of the 16 invited speakers are women and/or minorities. NSF funds will be used to support the attendance of two junior faculty members, two postdoctoral students, four graduate students, and two undergraduate students.