Cell migration through complex tissue barriers is a key driving force behind essential life processes such as embryonic development and immune homeostasis as well as pathological conditions such as inflammation and cancer metastasis. Within a living organism, cells do not migrate in isolation and hence understanding the mechanical and biochemical interactions between the migrating cells and the surrounding environment is crucial in understanding cell migration in vivo. My lab uses the migration of Drosophila melanogaster macrophages during embryonic development to answer these fundamental questions. Drosophila macrophages share several similarities with vertebrate macrophages in their origin, development and behavior and we use a combination of genetic manipulations with quantitative live imaging, biophysical tools and mathematical modeling. Currently the lab is focusing on two key aspects: (1) How do macrophages sense the stiffness of the surrounding tissues and alter their force generating machinery to facilitate migration? (2) How does the macrophage generated forces affect mechanics, cell fate and positioning of the surrounding tissues?

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