Modelling cell choice in development and disease

该项目涉及开发和分析原始数学模型，以解决生物组织中的机械调节及其对早期癌症进展的影响。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 Marie博士）合作，该项目将以哺乳动物神经嵴细胞的特性和行为为目标。这些移动性和多能性的细胞可以发育成黑色素细胞，产生色素的细胞很容易转化为皮肤癌黑色素瘤。利用Woolner和Marie实验室的数据揭示了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.