Collective Cellular Dynamics Lab

Tamal Das, Gruppenleiter

Cells in our body live and work together, collectively. Many important physiological processes such as embryonic development, formation and regeneration of an organ, and closure of a wound involve hundreds of cells synchronizing their actions in a way that they act like a single entity or a collective. In our group, we are trying to understand how mechanical forces working at molecular, cellular, and multicellular length-scales support the collective dynamics of epithelial cells. Specifically, we aim to reveal the guiding mechanical principles and the underlying molecular mechanisms that enable the cells to coordinate their movements, to maintain specific shape and size, and to initiate the removal of any perilously transformed individual.