Integrated PhD Biomedical Science

癌症相关成纤维细胞（CAFs）是每个肿瘤微环境的核心组成部分，可以促进或抑制癌症进展。单细胞测序的最新进展揭示了CAF功能的惊人异质性，这受其机械微环境的影响。目前，决定不同CAF行为的分子/细胞机制与致癌细胞外基质（ECM）的生物物理学之间的耦合在很大程度上是未知的。结合最先进的机械结构ECM成像，转录组分析（RNA-seq）和先进的3D培养，学生将以前所未有的分子分辨率研究功能性CAF异质性和致癌ECM变化，这将为癌症提供新的抗CAF疗法。

Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a central component of every tumour microenvironment that can either promote or inhibit cancer progression. Recent advances in single cell sequencing revealed an astonishing functional CAF heterogeneity, which is influenced by their mechanical microenvironment. Currently the coupling between the molecular / cellular mechanisms that determine distinct CAF behaviours and the biophysics of the oncogenic extracellular matrix (ECM) are largely unknown. Combining state-of-the-art mechano-structural ECM imaging, transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) and advanced 3D cultures, the student will investigate the functional CAF heterogeneity and oncogenic ECM changes with an unprecedented molecular resolution which will enable new anti-CAF therapies in cancer.