Modelling cell choice in development and disease

该项目涉及原始数学模型的开发和分析，解决生物组织中的机械调节及其对癌症进展早期阶段的影响。该项目与合作者（曼彻斯特大学生物、医学与健康学院的Sarah Woolner博士和Kerrie玛丽博士）合作，将针对哺乳动物神经嵴细胞的特性和行为。这些迁移和多能细胞可以发育成黑素细胞，产生色素的细胞容易转化为皮肤癌黑色素瘤。利用Woolner和玛丽实验室的数据，揭示了在机械负荷下小鼠黑素细胞前体组织的细胞形状变化，该项目将使用数学和计算模型来解决这种变化与早期肿瘤形成中谱系进展的关系。

This project involves the development and analysis of original mathematical models addressing mechanoregulation in biological tissues and its impact on the early stages of cancer progression. Working with collaborators (Dr Sarah Woolner & Dr Kerrie Marie in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester), the project will target the properties and behaviour of mammalian neural crest cells. These migratory and multipotent cells can develop into melanocytes, pigment-producing cells that are susceptible to transformation into the skin cancer melanoma. Exploiting data from the Woolner and Marie labs revealing cell-shape changes in mouse melanocyte precursor tissues under mechanical loading, the project will use mathematical and computational models to address the relationship of such changes to lineage progression in early tumour formation.