Mechanobiology of multicellular shape changes in cancer
Official title: Investigating the mechanobiology of multicellular morphogenesis
Funded at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville · NIH-11384280 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team will study how physical forces inside and around cells influence how groups of cells grow and form shapes, with a focus on cancer-related changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arkansas at Fayetteville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fayetteville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $364,581 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM156913-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384280 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; this is a mechanobiology research grant using cellular and tissue models.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not expected from this basic mechanobiology study.
What this research studies
This project uses three-dimensional cell models and engineered matrices to study how mechanical signals guide how cells organize and branch, which can affect cancer invasion. The researchers will combine experimental systems with computational tools to measure forces and cell behaviors in a tissue-like environment. The goal is to uncover how physical properties of the cell surroundings contribute to disease processes and explore potential mechanical-based therapies. The work builds on existing models and aims to optimize new methods for analyzing multicellular mechanics in a more physiologically relevant setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding mechanobiology could lead to new approaches that limit cancer spread by targeting physical cues in the tumor environment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that mechanical forces influence cell organization and invasion, supporting the relevance of this approach; the project extends these findings with new models and tools.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Fayetteville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Jian — University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Jian
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.