At the multicellular level, tissues coordinate cellular growth and remodeling in response to diverse mechanical stimuli through intricate intra- and inter-cellular signaling networks. However, the nuanced interplay between chemo-mechanical signaling processes, steering dynamic cellular behavior remains elusive. To investigate this, we develop chemo-mechanical theoretical and computational models, with a focus on characterizing non-linear elasticity, viscoelasticity, and mechanical plasticity of both normal and diseased tissues. Through continuum simulations, we investigate how the mechanical cues and downstream signaling processes influence cell-cell communication in tissues, dynamic cellular reorganization and cellular contractility.

Relevant contributions and publications

E. McEvoy, T. Sneh, E. Moeendarbary, Y. Javanmardi, N. Efimova, C. Yang, G.E. Marino-Bravante, X. Chen, J. Escribano, F. Spill, J.M. Garcia-Aznar, A.T. Weeraratna, T.M. Svitkina, R.D. Kamm and V.B. Shenoy
Feedback between mechanosensitive signaling and active forces governs endothelial junction integrity NATURE COMMUNICATIONS,13:7089, 2022

E. McEvoy, Y. Han, M. Guo, V. B. Shenoy
Gap Junctions Amplify Spatial Variations in Cell Volume in Proliferating Tumor Spheroids
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 11: 6148, 2020

A. van Oosten*, X. Chen*, L. Chin, K. Cruz, A. E. Patteson, K. Pogoda, V. B. Shenoy, P. A. Janmey *Equal contributions
The Emergence of Tissue Mechanics from Confinement of Non-linear Biopolymer Networks by Densely Packed Cells
NATURE, 573: 96-101, 2019