Dr Kate Poole is interested in how cells can "feel" their surroundings. Her research seeks to identify how cells sense and respond to changing mechanical inputs by identifying the molecules that can convert forces into electrical or biochemical signals that influence cell behaviour. Her research team is focused on two streams of research 1) characterising force sensing in cancer cells and 2) investigating what happens to our cells in microgravity (when the influence of Earth's gravity is ablated).

Force sensing in cancer cells

When solid tumours develop, there are many changes in the mechanical properties of both the cells and their surroundings. These mechanical changes can lead to a local stiffening of tissue around a tumour (as seen in the development of breast tumours, detected by feeling for lumps of stiffened tissue). This tissue stiffening can also promote progression of the disease. Our question is: what are the molecular force sensors in cancer cells that can sense and respond to these changes in mechanics? Our research has identified new force sensing molecules that influence cell migration and that may influence the initial steps of the metastatic cascade, where cancer cells break from a tumour mass and invade the surrounding tissue. We are currently working to understand precisely how these force sensors are activated and to identify the specific role of this mechanical signalling in the dissociation of cells from a tumour mass.

The impact of microgravity on cellular function

All life on Earth has evolved under the persistent pull of Earth's gravitational field. While life can be sustained in reduced gravity environments (such as the microgravity experienced on the International Space Station) there are significant disruptions in human physiology that have negative impacts on health and performance. These impacts on human health have been relatively well defined by studying the impact of extended stays in microgravity on astronauts but we do not yet know the mechanisms by which these changes occur. Kate's team are investigating how disruptions in force sensing and cellular structures can lead to changes in cellular function when cells are exposed to simulated microgravity. The overall goal of this work is to characterise how human health and performance is negatively impacted, at the molecular and cellular level, by reduced gravity environments, with the goal to identify ways to counter these negative effects, thus increasing human access to space.