Cell migration is essential for normal development and homeostasis, such as wound healing and immune response, and it is also involved in several pathologies such as fibrosis and cancer invasion during metastasis.  One of the most migratory cells during embryo development is the neural crest, which contribute to the formation of many tissues and organs. 

The primary aim of our research group is to elucidate the mechanism that underlies the development of the Neural Crest. We would like to know how Neural Crest cells acquire their identity within the ectoderm and how their migration and differentiation is controlled.

We have found that neural crest cells response to a combination of chemical and mechanical cues that control thier behaviour. In order to analyse cell behaviour of neural crest cells we use a multidisciplinary approach, where we combine genetics and molecular biology together with cell biology and biomechanics. We also use computational modelling to simulate neural crest behaviour and experimentally test the prediction of our models. Our final gaol is to understand how cells differentiation and migration is controlled by the integration of a multitude of different stimulus.