How fluid thickness, tissue stiffness, and tight spaces change cell behavior
The interplay of extracellular fluid viscosity, stiffness and confinement in regulating cell responses
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11261632
Researchers are looking at how the thickness of fluids around cells, how firm tissues are, and how confined spaces affect the movement and behavior of cancer and other human cells.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11261632 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This work uses lab-grown human cancer and immune cells and living models to see how differences in fluid thickness (viscosity), tissue stiffness, and physical confinement change the way cells move and remember past environments. The team combines micro-scale channels, engineered tissue setups, and molecular analyses to watch cells migrate and to study changes inside the cell and in chromatin structure. They will also look at how immune cells and tumor cells talk to each other under these physical conditions. The goal is to link basic cell responses to conditions found in human disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with solid tumors who can donate tumor tissue or blood samples for laboratory research would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment or who cannot provide tissue or blood samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new ways to stop cancer spread or improve treatments that rely on immune cells reaching tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory studies, including prior work by this team, show that fluid viscosity and confinement alter cell movement, but applying these insights to clinical treatments is still new and unproven.
Where this research is happening
BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES
- JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY — BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KONSTANTOPOULOS, KONSTANTINOS — JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: KONSTANTOPOULOS, KONSTANTINOS
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 below.
Conditions: Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Cancers