Project overview
Mechanical forces play crucial roles in biology, intervening in fundamental processes such as cell morphogenesis, growth, differentiation, adhesion and migration. Cells sense and respond to forces through a complex molecular machinery. Dysregulation in these processes is associated with cancer aggressiveness and metastasis, yet the mechanical characterization of cancer cells, particularly the biophysical properties of plasma and nuclear membranes under force, remains incomplete.
Addressing this gap requires tools capable of correlating precise mechanical perturbation with molecular-level imaging. The MeCanFP project will develop and utilize a pioneering Correlative Application-Imaging of Forces (CAIF) platform to enable simultaneously, high-precision force application and advanced fluorescence imaging at molecular resolution. This innovation will allow, for the first time, direct mapping of how mechanical load reshapes membrane properties, reorganizes mechanosensitive hubs, and drives nuclear responses.
MeCanFP is a truly interdisciplinary project merging the complementary expertise of two teams. The IBEC team has long experience in cell mechanobiology while the ICFO team brings unique know-how in advanced optical nanoscopy techniques, and the use of bright fluorophores and environment-sensitive dyes. This project aims for the identification of cancer-specific mechanical fingerprints with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution, offering new insights into the mechanobiology of tumour progression and opening avenues for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Project members
ICFO, Senior Researcher
Project Leader
IBEC, Senior Researcher
Project Leader
