University of Rochester
Grant: $71,060 - National Institutes of Health - May. 8, 2009
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Award Description: This small project will complete testing and development of an agent-based computational model of multi-cell migration in the classic scratch wound assay. The model attempts to mimic experiments on a simple immortal cell type (3T3-L1 fibroblasts) without free parameters. L1 cells are used because these cells exhibit stable growth and migration characteristics upon repeated passages, and reproducibly heal wounds in a steady, collective fashion despite their lack of specialized adhesive junctions. Collective migration occurs in a variety of medically important circumstances including wound healing, angiogenesis, and metastasis by some cancers. Thus the development of a quantitative understanding of the mechanisms of collective migration in the L1 system should provide a baseline for interpreting and/or modulating the behavior of more complex cell types. To achieve a predictive model the project will proceed successively through two aims. Early efforts will focus on the construction of a specialized multiphase interference microscope for the real-time measurement of cell height during wound healing experiments. Cell height measurements are needed because the existing model predicts that the breakdown of collective migration into cell scatter occurs once cells become fully spread on the substrate. The remaining efforts will test this and other predictions of the current computational model, measure missing parameters, and refine the model to arrive at a demonstrably predictive model of monolayer migration for a basic cell type.
Project Description: Scientific progress on both Aims. Research in McGrath lab has begun examining the manipulation of cell migration with growth factors. Research in Moore laboratory is establishing the principles of interference microscopy for cell height measurement. Employees have been hired to help facilitate the project.
Jobs Summary: The University of Rochester created/retained a Visiting Assistant Professor and Student. (Total jobs reported: 1)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on May. 8, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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