Cells alter their behavior in response to mechanical forces in their environment. This has important consequences for understanding and developing therapies for Regeneration, Development, Aging, and Cancer, as contexts in which cells normally reside in a complex 3D mechanical environment.
The visions for the Center for MechanoBiology and Genomics is to build trans-disciplinary research collaborations among scientists and engineers at Carnegie Mellon University to understand
- mechano-transduction mechanisms that regulate the physical interaction of cells with their environment.
- how mechanical forces acting on cells control chromatin organization, gene expression, and cell fate.
Our combined expertise and world class facilities make us uniquely poised to establish CMU as a leader in this emerging field
Expertise
Breakthroughs in understanding how cells respond to their complex mechanical environments will come through the use of high throughput genomic assays, large-scale data analysis, engineered fabricated systems and cutting-edge live cellular imaging.
The center is a transdisciplinary hub that draws on the expertise from CMU science and engineering researchers in data analytics, mechanical modeling, advanced imaging technologies, microfabrication, transgenic organisms and stem cell culture.
Facilities
The Center benefits from the many facilities at CMU, including Molecular Biology Imaging Center (MBIC), Nano Fabrication Lab, Colloids, polymers and Surfaces (CPS) laboratories, Ansys and TechSpark maker space, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC), Marine Genomics Laboratories, Center for Nucleic Acid Science and Technology (CNAST), and Automated research facility
Partners
Our faculty partner with local and national centers including: McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Hillman Cancer Center, and ARMI