How the stiffness of cells and tissues affects their function
Regulation of cell, tissue, and nucleus function by mechanical properties of biopolymer networks
This project looks at how the physical stiffness and fluid flow inside cells and tissues influence diseases such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259123 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The researchers study purified protein networks, intact cells, and whole tissues to learn how their mechanical properties — like stiffness, viscoelasticity, and fluid flow — change function. They built new instruments to measure tiny fluid movements and relaxation in tissues and to visualize poroelastic behavior at the micron scale. The team combines these experiments with mathematical models from collaborators to better describe nonstandard mechanical behavior in biological materials. A new set of experiments focuses on how the mechanics of the cell nucleus itself may drive disease-related changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or those undergoing vascular surgery who can provide tissue samples or participate in related observational work would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions that are unrelated to tissue or cellular mechanics are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic-mechanobiology project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to detect or target the mechanical changes that contribute to atherosclerosis and other tissue diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked tissue stiffness to diseases like atherosclerosis, but the specific measurements of poroelastic flow and nuclear mechanics used here are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Janmey, Paul a — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Janmey, Paul a
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.