Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich Group
Heisenberg Professor for Mechanics of Active Biomaterials
Our Research Mission
Our lab investigates how mechanical forces influence the behavior and organization of living matter. We are particularly interested in:
- How mechanical stress alters the material properties and molecular composition of cells and tissues, and how this contributes to biological function
- How mechanical cues regulate cell and tissue growth, with a focus on development and disease contexts
Research Focus Areas
We currently pursue these questions in four main research directions:
- Measuring the mechanical properties of the actin cytoskeleton in live cells
- Understanding how cell mechanics and the cytoskeleton influence cell proliferation, especially in cancer cells
- Investigating how mechanical tension is regulated in the plasma membrane
- Studying mechanical stress patterns during tissue development
Our work bridges experiment and theory to uncover the physical principles underlying cellular mechanics.
Methods and Approaches
We use a combination of advanced experimental and theoretical techniques, including:
- Atomic force microscopy
- Cell culture and core biochemical techniques
- Live-cell and high-resolution optical microscopy
- Continuum mechanics and viscoelastic modelling
- Theoretical frameworks from dynamical systems and mathematical modelling