The group of Dr. Graeme Birdsey has developed a 3D in vitro model that can be used to study the mechanical properties of different cell types. In brief, modified gelatines are used to enhance the mechanical properties of gelatine hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties, based on Click Chemistry Pairs: Tetrazine (T) and Norbornene  (N), named as GelTN.

GelTN supports the encapsulation of Lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) to create 3D LECs spheroid-based lymphangiogenesis model, that can be used to investigate the role of candidate genes in lymphangiogenesis or to investigate endothelial dysfunction in patient-derived ECFCs (e.g primary lymphedema).

Dr. Graeme Birdsey, Centre Board Member: g.birsey@imperial.ac.uk

Development Cell (2015) The Endothelial Transcription Factor ERG Promotes Vascular Stability and Growth through Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pubmed>

Blood (2012) The transcription factor Erg regulates expression of histone deacetylase 6 and multiple pathways involved in endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis Pubmed>