Our research groups have pioneered the rapidly growing field of Molecular Mechanobiology and are now advancing novel mechano-concepts towards the clinic. The cancer and fibrotic research has taken a cell-centric view in the last decades, mostly ignoring the reciprocal crosstalk of cells with their diseased extracellular matrix (ECM) or the physical aspects of their environment. It is as wanting to describe the behavior of a spider, while neglecting the presence of the spider net. The crosstalk between cells and their extracellular matrix, for example, profoundly steers cell functions and there is an urgent need to understand it. By using computational and experimental technologies, as well as advanced super-resolution imaging, our group discovered many structural mechanisms how mechanical forces can turn proteins into mechano-chemical switches. Our major goal now is to convert our newly discovered mechano-regulated mechanisms into clinically relevant products.
For selected reviews, click here.
For selected presentations, here.
*** Special Announcement ***
The Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology is excited to invite you to a special symposium titled “Mechanobiology and Beyond: Science and Perspectives", which will be held on ETH Zurich, main campus HG F7 on Friday, 27th June 2025. Join the event and let us celebrate 35 years of research in Prof. Viola Vogel's group! Click here to get to the event page with programme details and the registration link. We are looking forward to seeing you!
