Physical forces and the architecture of the extracellular environment are an emerging area of cell fate regulation and tissue homeostasis.

Cells sense changes in their physical environment through cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesions and these mechanical inputs can control cell fate. However, how these geometrical and physical inputs regulate cellular processes is not well understood. We are leveraging the skin as a model to explore these questions by defining how mechanical inputs regulate cell fate and tissue homeostasis.