Our lab focuses on mechanisms of cell dynamics: epithelial-mesenchymal transition, directional cell migration, cell polarity and tissue morphogenesis. We aim at understanding basic principles that rule cell movements in complex environments during embryogenesis and cancer. We use embryos as tools to better understand the function of key players in cancer progression such as the extracellular matrix, adhesion moelcules, the cytoskeleton, metalloproteinases and guidance cues.
We use two experimental models: chicken embryo (neural crest, neural tube) and the xenopus embryo (neural crest, placodes).
Our goal is to use our findings on experimental models to better understand cell dynamics defects occurring in diseases.
