Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded Princeton University $451,000 through the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) on July 15, 2026, to develop an integrated experimental and computational platform for mapping, modulating, and modeling intercellular forces in living tissues. Over the five-year project period (through March 31, 2031), the award funds the design and validation of microfabricated bioelectronic sensor-actuator devices, establishment of open-source imaging platforms and processing pipelines for spatiotemporal force field mapping, and application of the integrated device-imaging-computation platform to investigate how dynamic force fields drive key developmental processes. This research addresses a critical gap in understanding mechanical forces between cells—fundamental drivers of tissue formation, function, and pathological processes—by combining flexible microfabricated sensors, high-speed volumetric optical microscopy, and physics-based computational modeling with machine-learning acceleration.

The project deliverables include validated mechanical sensor-actuator devices suitable for both in vitro and in vivo tissue applications, robust computational processing pipelines for near-real-time force field visualization and analysis, and empirical findings on how intercellular force dynamics govern developmental and physiological mechanisms. These tools and findings are intended to advance fundamental understanding of tissue mechanics while supporting downstream applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and biomaterials development. The award supports basic research that increases understanding of biological processes relevant to disease mechanisms and treatment innovation, consistent with NIGMS's mission priorities.