Information Transport during Cell Migration

Cells are amazing sensory machinery to detect and process highly complex environmental signals in their microenvironment, including chemical (i.e., concentration of molecules), mechanical (i.e., force or displacement), and flow signals. These signals also varies in time and space. Cells need to decipher (i.e., compare, integrate and process) these signals to determine the migration direction. This ability plays a crucial role in processes like wound healing, immune responses, and even cancer metastasis. We are investigating this cellular function using biophysical minimal systems approach to predict the cellular behavior within the complex microenvironment.