The push and pull of cell mechanics: defining a new mechanotransduction pathway regulating cellular interactions with the extracellular environment

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Fibroblasts are dynamic regulators of tissue development, structure and homeostasis. Inappropriate activation of fibroblasts centrally contributes to the pathophysiology of cancer and fibrotic disease. We have discovered a new Rho GTPase effector pathway, which provides a pivotal link between extracellular mechanical cues and cellular behaviour; the molecular mechanisms remain obscure. In this exciting project, we will combine state-of-the-art genetic models, coupled with biophysical techniques and advanced live-cell microscopy, to understand how this novel pathway regulates cellular mechanics. This interdisciplinary study provides a unique opportunity to explore how cells sense and respond to the physical world, with significant impact for disease.