Research Centre of Excellence in Mechanobiology

The 3rd Mechanobiology Workshop 3 - 5 November 2009

The 3rd Mechanobiology workshop is the third of a series of annual workshops first held in 2007 and chaired by leading scientist in mechanobiology, Prof. Michael Sheetz of Columbia University. This workshop is held not only in the annual tradition of the series of meetings, it also marks the inauguration of the newly established Research of Excellence of Mechanobiology (RCE Mechanobiology).

When

3 - 5 November 2009

Where

Centre for Life Sciences Auditorium,
NUS, Singapore (campus map)

Themes of Symposium

- Cell Migration and Actin Cytoskeleton
- Cell Adhesion to Extracellular Matrix and other cells
- Microtubules and molecular Motors
- Chromatin, Nucleus and Cell Division
- Signaling in Cell Mechanosensing, Polarization and Migration
- Mechanics of Embryo Development

On 20 February 2009, a press conference announced a commitment of S $150 million by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) over 10 years to support the Mechanobiology Research Centre of Excellence (RCE), to be hosted at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The establishment of this centre was the result of 3 years of regular meetings, scientific discussions and careful strategic planning between Prof. Sheetz and his scientific colleagues in establishing such a research consortium in Singapore in this field. (News: "Third Research Centre of Excellence at NUS Latest RCE to study cell and tissue mechanics".)

The centre recognizes the importance of the mechanisms of cell and tissue mechanics in the development of therapies and have brought together over 25 PIs under one roof in Singapore from the various fields of mechanobiology, cell biology, biomechanics, modeling and bioimaging to break new ground in Mechanobiology. Critical applications of mechanobiology include the biologies of cancer (cancer cells respond inappropriately to their mechanical environment), cardiovascular, bone, cartilage, ligaments, immune system, and neuronal organization.