Biophysical cancer profiling

Our team uses powerful high-tech tools such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal Raman spectroscopy to examine the structure and chemistry of both living materials, such as cells, and nonliving materials. Our lab is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, including the Bruker AFM and Renishaw inVia Raman microscope. These allow us to see and measure substances that are far too small for the unaided eye.

For the past 10 years, we've been studying important processes that happen inside cells, including how they grow, divide, age and take in nutrients. We're especially interested in how these processes affect the mechanical properties of cells. These properties include how stiff or flexible they are at the nanoscale, which is a size range 1,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Another key focus of our research is cancer. We study the tumor microenvironment. This is the area around a tumor, including other cells and structures the tumor interacts with. We examine how cancer cells behave in this environment and how treatments like chemotherapy or immunotherapy might change those behaviors.

We combine physical measurements with advanced biological data, a technique known as omics. By doing this, we're creating smart tools that can help doctors better understand a person's cancer. This could lead to quicker, more-accurate treatment decisions and potentially lower costs for patients and healthcare systems.

Our lab's mission is to close the gap between detecting diseases early and starting the right treatment at the right time, ultimately helping save lives and improve quality of care.