How tumors sense and respond to physical forces in their surroundings
Methods for characterizing mechanobiology of the tumor microenvironment landscape
This project builds a computer method that reads tumor tissue images to show how physical forces in the tumor environment affect cancer cells, aiming to help people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191593 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will combine high-resolution scans of routine H&E pathology slides with highly multiplexed immunofluorescence images and physics-based models of light-tissue interaction to map mechanical features inside tumors. The team will develop an algorithm that reconstructs three-dimensional mechanobiology across whole tissue sections at sub-cellular detail. They will train and validate the method using stained tissue samples and known molecular markers of tumor behavior. The end result is a map of how forces and tissue structure relate to cancer cell signaling that could be used by scientists and pathologists.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with solid tumors who are having surgery or biopsy and are willing to donate tissue or allow their pathology slides to be used for research.
Not a fit: Patients with blood cancers or those who cannot provide tissue samples are unlikely to be included or benefit directly from this project in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could create new tissue-based markers to predict tumor aggression, risk of relapse, and likely response to therapies, helping personalize cancer care.
How similar studies have performed: Related digital pathology and multiplex imaging methods have shown promise, but applying physics-based light-matter models to map tumor mechanics across whole slides is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Uttam, Shikhar — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Uttam, Shikhar
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.