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SUMMARY:Heavy mice and lighter things: how chemistry gives insight into ho
 w biological tissues work - Dr Melinda Duer
DTSTART:20151117T181500Z
DTEND:20151117T191500Z
UID:TALK61465@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Andrew Carlotti
DESCRIPTION:The bulk of our solid tissues\, such as skin\, muscle\, tendon
 \, bone and blood vessels\, is made up of the so-called extracellular matr
 ix. The extracellular matrix is ultimately responsible for determining how
  cells in the tissue behave - so bone cells behave like bone cells\, for i
 nstance\, because they are surrounded by bone extracellular matrix\, rathe
 r than tendon matrix\, or any other tissue matrix. When the structure of t
 he extracellular matrix changes\, so cells are directed to behave differen
 tly - and this leads to disease. Cancer cells\, for instance\, change the 
 matrix around them in a way which invariably has a detrimental effect on t
 he normal cells of the tissue\, often leading to those normal cells dying-
  and hence the devastating consequences of cancer in a tissue. Furthermore
 \, cancer cells seem to be able to change the structure of the matrix arou
 nd them and in neighbouring tissues to allow the cancer cells to move and 
 invade new tissues\, progressing the disease. This talk will describe the 
 work in my group which seeks to unravel exactly how the extracellular matr
 ix directs cells to behave the way they do. Our aim is to be able to halt 
 the progression of diseases like cancer by either halting or reversing the
  structural changes of the extracellular matrix that are key to the progre
 ssion of the disease\, and so bring a new paradigm to the way in which dis
 eases can be treated -by treating the extracellular matrix\, rather than t
 reating cells.
LOCATION:Old Combination Room\, Trinity College
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