Project Grant R35GM157079

This $406,250 federal Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), awarded under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), supports research by The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania to investigate how mechanical cues in the extracellular matrix regulate the inflammatory response of monocytes. The project aims to overcome challenges in studying monocyte mechanobiology by developing human stem cell-based culture systems, investigating the role of non-canonical NF-kappa-B signaling, and determining the impact of nuclear mechanotransduction and epigenetics on monocyte fate. The findings are expected to build fundamental understanding of how physical cues regulate innate immunity, with potential implications for fibrosis, cancer, and infection. The 5-year project commenced on January 1, 2025.