11/10/2015 Julia Cation
Written by Julia Cation
Leading mechanobiology scientists from around the world joined MechSE and other Illinois faculty last week for the “Cell/Matrix Mechanobiology: Current State and Future Directions” workshop.
Held October 26-28 at NCSA, MechSE’s Gutsell Professor Taher Saif hosted the event, which included short lectures, Q&A sessions, and panel discussions. The presenters came from universities including Harvard, UC San Diego, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, National University of Singapore, MIT, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins University, UC Berkeley, the Max Planck Institute, Institut Curie, Universiteit Amsterdam, among other prestigious places.
Experimental evidence acquired during the last three decades has now established that extracellular biophysical cues, such as forces and matrix stiffness, have a profound influence on a wide range of cell behavior such as growth, motility, differentiation, gene expression, and more. Cells not only respond to these cues from the matrix, but also remodel the matrix and influence the subsequent cues.
The precise role of mechanics in determining this reciprocity remains puzzling for scientists, however, as they explore the fundamental questions in this field using in vitro experimental platforms. At the same time, theoretical/computational models will be needed to interpret the experimental results, design new experiments, and predict outcomes for engineering applications.
A deeper understanding of these issues may have a revolutionary impact on biological and health sciences by offering new paradigms in disease detection and prognosis, in engineering cell functions for developing artificial tissues, and in development of new materials, sensors, and other technologies with applications beyond health and biology.
Workshop organizers hoped to identify the experimental and computational platforms necessary to explore the field of cell/matrix mechanobiology; identify its potential societal impact, especially in health care; and propose a roadmap for achieving these goals.
Saif, who is also MechSE’s Associate Head for Graduate Programs and Research, said, “The workshop brought together some of the most esteemed thinkers on mechanobiology from around the world to discuss the grand challenges and future directions of the field. The speakers and participants were extremely engaging, and discussions were rigorous and generated many new ideas.”
MechSE Department Head Tony Jacobi and Vice Chancellor for Research Peter Schiffer helped welcome participants with introductory remarks. The event was supported by a grant from NSF, the Grainger Engineering Breakthroughs Initiative, MechSE, and the College of Engineering.