Tufts University · EngineeringMechanosensing and Cell Behavior Lab
Shelly R. Peyton · Medford, Massachusetts
Research Focus
The Peyton lab at Tufts University focuses on how the stiffness of the environment influences cell behavior and evolution. By studying cells grown on different materials, they aim to understand how mechanical properties can lead to genetic changes in cell populations. This research is particularly important for developing better treatments for diseases like cancer, where cell motility and growth can impact disease progression.
mechanosensingcell culturegenetic selectionhydrogelscell phenotypescancer biologymechanical propertiescell behaviordrug resistancetissue engineering
Research Aims
5AIM 01Test how substrate stiffness influences cell growth and evolution over time.
AIM 02Quantify changes in cell motility and metastatic potential on varying stiffness substrates.
AIM 03Sequence genomic changes associated with cell evolution in different mechanical environments.
AIM 04Investigate how mechanosensors mediate phenotypic consequences of mechanical stiffness.
AIM 05Develop applications of mechano-selection in understanding disease progression and treatment.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturehydrogel fabricationgenomic sequencingdata analysismolecular biology techniquesphenotypic assessmentsmechanosensing assaysmicroscopystatistical modelingRNA sequencing
Output against the department
Publications131bottom 31% of dept.193rd of 278
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.0kbottom 39% of dept.169th of 278
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.