WE INVESTIGATE HOW PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS AND FORCE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN CELLS AND THEIR SURROUNDING MATRIX REGULATE TUMOR PROGRESSION AND THE IMMUNE RESPONSE IN CANCER.
Our research focuses on understanding how cellular mechanosensing influences cell motility, communication, and fate.
To explore these mechanisms, we develop advanced 2D and 3D on-chip models that recapitulate the physical constraints, composition, and spatial organization of tissues and tumors. These microengineered systems enable us to dissect how stromal and tumor cells migrate, interact, and adapt to mechanical cues in physiologically relevant contexts.
By integrating biophysical, cellular, and engineering approaches, our goal is to uncover how mechanical signals drive disease progression and to identify novel mechanobiological pathways that can be targeted to prevent or treat cancer and other pathologies.
Our group actively collaborates with academic, clinical, and industrial partners to design innovative on-chip platforms for studying cell mechanics across diverse physiological and pathological settings.
PRESENTATION
GET TO KNOW US BETTER
RESEARCH STAFF
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE
Anna Labernadie
alabernadie@cipf.es
Maria Paz Rubio Rodriguez
mprubio@cipf.es
Virginia Llopis Hernández
vllopish@cipf.es
Julie Buisson
jbuisson@cipf.es
Ana Ferrero Micó
aferrero@cipf.es
PUBLICATIONS
OUR SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS
Micro Immune Response On-chip (MIRO) models the tumour-stroma interface for immunotherapy testing.
Nature Communications 2025 Feb, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56275-1, Vol. 16, pag. 1279-1279
Membrane to cortex attachment determines different mechanical phenotypes in LGR5+ and LGR5- colorectal cancer cells.
Nature Communications 2024 Apr, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47227-2, Vol. 15, pag. 3363-3363
Targeted immunotherapy against distinct cancer-associated fibroblasts overcomes treatment resistance in refractory HER2+ breast tumors.
Nature Communications 2022 Sep, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32782-3, Vol. 13, pag. 5310-5310
