A precise control of cell morphology is key for the growth and homeostasis of any organism, and cell shape deregulation is at the heart of many pathological disorders, including cancer. The shape of any object is the result of mechanical forces, it is thus essential to investigate how cells control their own mechanical properties to understand shape. The Paluch lab combines approaches from Biology, Physics and Engineering to investigate cellular shape control in healthy and disease conditions. Prof. Paluch will discuss how multi-disciplinary approaches are becoming increasingly central in the Life Sciences, and highlight some of her group’s findings on shape and form in Biology.
Professor Ewa Paluch is the first woman to hold the Chair of Anatomy in its 300 year history. Her work focuses on the cell cortex, seeking to understand the mechanobiology of cell shape control. Recently in 2019, Prof Paluch was awarded the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientist.
