Biology & Physics

Physics is often needed to understand several processes in Biological systems. For example, when cells migrate, responding to paracrine factors that diffuse in their microenvironment, they exert forces in the matrix, are able to cleave and mechanically deform matrix fibres, and to push themselves to invade new regions. Solid tumor development is strongly dependent on the local pressure exerted by healthy tissue, as well as on nutrient and oxygen delivery provided by the neighbouring vascular network. Blood is pumped by the heart thanks to electrochemical waves that regulate the concerted tissue compression. To better understand these and other biological processes from cell to organism scale, it is pivotal the development of quantitative models that integrate biological, biochemical and physical processes. This is our focus and passion.