Grant: Operating Grant

Cells respond to external stimuli through the complex interaction of molecules which is referred to as signalling. The proper regulation of these responses is crucial for proper development while misregulation is associated with onset of diseases including cancer. A major obstacle in understanding and ultimately manipulating cellular responses is the inherent variability of individual cells that is difficult to capture using conventional techniques. This proposal will exploit newly developed methodologies based on micro-scale channels and valves to enable, for the first time, the detailed analysis of signaling at the single cell level. These studies will shed light on fundamental processes relevant to all aspects of human health.