Understanding cellular mechanics
4 Sep 2013
Experts from UK universities will be attending the IWCMM to present research on mechanobiology, a field designed to help advance understanding of mechanical forces on molecular biology.
The field of mechanobiology seeks to combine biology and engineering in an effort to investigate the influence of mechanical forces on cellular and molecular processes.
Experts believe the process has a large potential to bring new insights into physiological function, aetiology and prevention of chronic diseases including heart failure, cancer, osteoporosis and neuromuscular disorders.
This also offers the potential to accelerate the development of practical solutions in regenerative medicine
nCATS researcher Dr Georges Limbert
Researchers will present their work next week to an audience at the International Workshop on Cell Mechanics and Mechanobiology (IWCMM), taking place on 9 and 10 September in Cape Town, South Africa.
Scientists from various universities will also discuss the idea that advances is mechanobiology could contribute to the development of effective regenerative therapies and ultimately, lead to innovations in biomedicine and biotechnology.
Dr Georges Limbert, from the national Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), is conducting research that focusses on the modelling of the mechanobiology of biological soft tissues and the physical behaviour of biomaterials.
He said: “The multidisciplinary combination of computational simulation and experimental approaches allows exploring phenomena in cell mechanics that are not easily accessible with experimental methods alone.
“This also offers the potential to accelerate the development of practical solutions in regenerative medicine,” he added.
