The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded Drexel University a $389,600 Project Grant under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to conduct research on the "Physical Mechanisms of 3D Cell Motility." The research aims to enhance the understanding of how cells, including metastatic tumor cells and wound healing fibroblasts, move through three-dimensional extracellular matrices. Specifically, the project will explore how cells regulate actomyosin contractility and water influx to power the nucleus through diverse 3D environments, addressing key gaps in knowledge around the mechanosensors, organelle transport, and long-term regulation of this "nuclear piston" migration mechanism. The findings are expected to lead to new therapeutic strategies for controlling normal and abnormal cell movement in the body. The award commenced on February 1, 2025, with an expected completion date of January 31, 2030.
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