Harnessing the mechanosensitivity of cells for regenerative therapies and disease detection

Dr Olivia Johnson-Love introduces the novel method of vibration-based cell engineering in order to alter the fate of stem cells. Cells are highly responsive to mechanical cues in their microenvironment, modulating their behaviour through proliferation, differentiation, or morphological adaptation. This mechanosensitivity has been widely studied for directing stem cell differentiation and offers promising avenues for …

Integrin-growth factor dynamics in cancer stemness and tissue regeneration

Dr Udesh Dhawan introduces some of his recent research on how integrins can be utilised in growth factor activation and the development of a mechanobiology-based bone regeneration platform. Integrins are specialised adhesion proteins that enable cells to attach and survive. Take away integrins, and we take away the ability of cells that rely on adhesion …

CeMi around the world – Ioanna in Buenos Aires!

In this series of blogs we hear from students recently returned from academic placements about their experiences. Ioanna Rigou is a third-year PhD student under the supervision of Prof Matt Dalby. Hi, I’m Ioanna, a third-year PhD student at the University of Glasgow, and in September 2024, I embarked on an incredible journey with Bio-Tune. …

Hydrogels for the study of cancer and fibrosis

In this piece, Dr Matthew Walker summarises the importance of two recently published reviews on the topic of mechanobiology in both cancer and fibrosis, both of which can be accessed here: Walker M, Morton JP. Hydrogel models of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to study cell mechanosensing. Biophysical Reviews. 2024;16(6):851-70. (doi: 10.1007/s12551-024-01265-8) Walker M, Gourdon D, Cantini M. …

CeMi around the world – Dora in Leuven!

In this series of blogs we hear from students recently returned from academic placements about their experiences. Dora Rogkoti is a fourth-year PhD student under the supervision of Prof Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez. Hello! 😊 I’m Dora, currently a final-year PhD student at the Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment in Glasgow. From September until December 2024, I …

CeMi around the world – Euan in Adelaide!

In this series of blogs we hear from students recently returned from academic placements about their experiences. Euan Urquhart is a fourth-year PhD student under the supervision of Dr Cristina Gonzalez-Garcia. During my placement in Adelaide, I had the incredible opportunity to work with Dr. Christina Bursill’s group in the Vascular Research Centre at the …

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