Bioengineering map of how forces shape living cell machinery
Official title: Bioengineering approaches to map mechanotransduction in the living cell
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11394779 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team will study how mechanical forces inside living cells influence stem cell fate and gene regulation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2005 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $400,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM072744-22 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394779 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults whose cells are used in the laboratory studies, including human cell lines and engineered models.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy cells or non-human models used in the lab may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project looks at how physical forces affect stem cells at the level of chromatin inside living cells. It uses advanced imaging and bioengineering tools to see how stretching or compression changes gene activity and chromatin structure. The work aims to connect mechanical signals to stem cell differentiation and potential cancer stem cell behavior. Outcomes could reveal how physical environments influence cell fate and development. The study is conducted in a research setting with human cells and established cell lines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to new ways to guide stem cell behavior and improve tissue engineering and cancer biology approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that mechanical cues influence cell behavior, with ongoing exploration into chromatin-level changes; this study builds on those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Ning — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Ning
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.