Cell adhesion and Migration

Cell migration is a complex process that requires the integration of environmental cues into a directional response. We seek to understand how external signals are processed by different receptor classes and are integrated inside the cell. We are particularly interested in integrin signalling and in the integration of signals by Rho GTPases. The machinery involved in cell migration is frequently hijacked by pathogens and is ill-used in many important diseases. We seek to understand how pathogens exploit the host machinery, and we hope that this will lead to new therapeutic targets.

Projects

(i) A system’s level analysis of the spatio-temporal regulation of signaling during polarized cell migration (iPhD project with Olivier Pertz)
(ii) Models of pathogen entry into cells (part of InfectX)

(iii) Integrin Signal initiation