Cellular sensing of mechanics in breast cancer biology
Official title: Cellular mechanotransduction - from the immune response to transcriptional regulation
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11398177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how breast cancer cells and immune cells feel and respond to the stiffness of their surroundings, aiming to connect mechanical signals to changes in gene activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $386,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM145313-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398177 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with breast cancer or related immune conditions who may benefit from advances in mechanobiology-informed treatments.
✕Less likely to help
People not experiencing breast cancer or related immune system interactions may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project explores how cells sense physical forces in their environment and translate them into actions inside the cell, using advanced imaging, force measurements, and genomic analysis. It focuses on T cells and gene regulation to understand how mechanics influence immune responses and transcription. The work combines cutting-edge technology and modeling to reveal how cytoskeletons coordinate signals to control cell behavior in breast cancer contexts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new targets to modulate immune responses and gene regulation in breast cancer, potentially guiding better therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that mechanics influence immune cell signaling and gene regulation, with promising implications for cancer biology.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Upadhyaya, Arpita — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Upadhyaya, Arpita
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.