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Mechanotransduction is defined as the way cells can convert a mechanical stimulus into biochemical signals and is present in almost every physiological phenomena within the human body. During this evening we will focus on skin and bone research and present several approaches to study why tissues and organs react in certain ways to different external stimuli. We will go through their mechanical properties and show how wound healing can be studied using engineered models in the lab. During the night, there will be Pint of Science goodies to be won!
from cells on a chip to new therapies
Dr John Connelly
(Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research)
Over the last decade, technologies from the computer microchip industry have found new applications within biomedical research. Micro-fabrication methods can be used to engineer cells and tissues with high precision and create miniaturised models of complex organs or human diseases. Work in our laboratory focuses on developing micro-engineered models of wound-healing, which can be used to gain new insights into normal wound repair processes in the skin and to test new therapies for chronic, non-healing wounds.
The force – mechanically instructing our stem cells
Dr Stephen Thorpe
(Post Doctoral Researcher)
Our bodies exist in a mechanically loaded world and mechanical signals are key to the development and maintenance of our organs, tissues and metabolic processes. For example, astronauts in zero gravity must undergo rigorous daily exercise regimes to avoid severe loss of bone and muscle mass.While we know that the mechanical environment has a major effect on the behaviour of our cells, we understand very little about how mechanical forces are perceived and processed by our cells. I will discuss our work & how cells perceive their mechanical environment.
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