Abstract
Cell migration is essential for morphogenesis, wound healing and immune response and plays a major role in cancer invasion during metastasis. By combining expertise in biomechanics (Charras) and in vivo cell migration (Mayor), we have uncovered a novel role for mechanics in regulating cell migration of neural crest cells, a highly motile embryonic cell type. This multi-disciplinary project will build on these findings to further investigate the role of tissue mechanics in cell migration in vivo. It does so through training in a number of molecular, cellular and biomechanical approaches applied both in vitro and in vivo, during embryo development.
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