Tissue biology and disease modelling
Scientists at EMBL Barcelona use advanced technologies to observe, manipulate, and model how changes in genes percolate through cells, tissues, and organs, in health and disease.
Tissues such as those in the skin, digestive tract, and airways are known as epithelial tissues. They act as barriers between an organ and its environment, controlling the passage of molecules in and out. Connective tissues provide structure and stability, and coordinate cell growth and movement. Muscle tissues allow organisms to perform controlled movements, while nervous tissues provide the signals that regulate these and other activities in the body, and enable organisms to sense and process environmental stimuli.
Tissue biologists at EMBL investigate how tissues and organs form during the development of embryos into mature organisms. They also grow artificial tissues and organ-like structures from individual cells. They investigate how cells within tissues work together, how different tissues interact, and how tissues can heal and regenerate when they have been injured. To understand these processes, EMBL scientists collaborate closely with experts in imaging and bioinformatics. Understanding tissue function and development may lead to new approaches for the treatment of injuries or the replacement of damaged organs.