Mechanobiology is a dynamic and rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field focused on understanding how physical forces influence cells and tissues at multiple scales. This field holds immense potential for advancing healthcare and diagnostics, but its progress relies on the development of precise tools and methodologies capable of applying and measuring mechanical forces across biological systems. Despite significant advancements, there remains a critical gap in technology: the ability to probe multiple biophysical parameters—such as internal ordering, mechanical properties, electrical characteristics, and structural features—within the same cells. Addressing this challenge is essential for gaining deeper insights into cellular behavior variability, potentially unlocking new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities.
The SameMultiPhys project proposes to develop innovative microfluidic technologies for the field of cell mechanobiology. These technologies will enable the measurement of multiple biophysical parameters on the same cells, offering a powerful tool for identifying biomarkers that reflect cellular states.Funded for four years under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchange program, the project fosters international collaboration by connecting researchers from eight institutions through a series of research exchanges. Over its duration, the project will facilitate 39 one-month research exchanges across prestigious institutions, including Tel Aviv University, the University of Florence, CNRS, New York University, the University of Washington, the University of Santiago de Chile, and the University of Toronto.
The goals of the project are: (i) To design and develop new microfluidics-based technologies to perform biophysical assays capable of measuring multiple parameters at the single-cell level. This advancement aims to improve the identification of robust biomarkers for clinical applications and (ii) to validate and apply the developed tools in studies of T lymphocytes in various states of activation and senescence. These studies aim to unravel the complex biological processes underlying the immune response during aging. The specific Work Packages (WP) of the project are: WP1. Management; WP2. Designing and fabricating prototypes; WP3. Stardardizing measuremens with suitable calibration samples; WP4. Testing and validating prototypes; WP5. Quantifying acquired images and performing statistical analyses; WP6. Refine: Evaluating the prototypes for potential improvements; WP7. Development of biophysical models of cell response; WP8. Dissemination and communication.
