Dynamics and mechanics of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

The collective behavior of adherent cells will be examined in the context of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The EMT converts epithelial cells into migratory and invasive cells and is a fundamental event in morphogenesis, metastasis, and wound healing. Cells that undergo EMT reorganize their cortical actin cytoskeleton into one that enables dynamic cell elongation and directional motility. Here, we will investigate the EMT in terms of cell motility and mechanics as a function of substrate properties using high-resolution optical and mechanical techniques.