Director: Jenny Munson, Ph.D.
Microenvironmental contributions to disease progression
How cancer turns our tissues against us.
How cancer interacts with the tissue around it is an emerging theme of cancer research. Each individual's cancer is unique and so are their healthy tissues. We create 3D in vitro models of cancer in which we can study the human tumor microenvironment and explore the contributions of cells and proteins to cancer malignancy and therapeutic response.
Team members:
Cora Esparza
Gabriela Mendes, PhD
Samantha Howerton
Savieay Esparza
Monet Roberts, Ph.D.
Sarah Kremer
Yamilet Macias-Orihuela
Fluid flow and transport through tissues
When convection and diffusion go bad.
The pressure in a tumor can be 10-100 times that in healthy tissue. This differential between the tumor and its surroundings creates fluid flow that drains through healthy tissue. These flows are responsible for a number of physiological changes to the tissue and can encourage cancer malignancy. By imaging, modeling, and understanding the mechanisms of interstitial flow we can better treat tumors.
Team members:
Cora Esparza
Caleb Stine, Ph.D.
Naciye Atay
Jessica Cunningham, Ph.D.
Aileen Suarez
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