Matthew Kutys, PhD

Assistant Professor
Cell and Tissue Biology
+1 415 502-2247
Research Description: 

The Kutys Lab spans disciplinary boundaries between cell biology and engineering to investigate tissue morphogenic processes associated with human development, regeneration and disease. Ultimately, we are interested in uncovering fundamental molecular and mechanical mechanisms that conspire across time and length scales to organize and shape human tissues. To do so, we develop microfluidic, biomimetic human tissue models that recapitulate 3D in vivo architectures, microenvironments, cellular heterogeneity, and morphogenic behaviors that can be examined mechanistically by biochemical and cell biological approaches. Combined with advanced microscopy, cellular and molecular engineering, and 'omic' technologies, our multidisciplinary approach allows us to model, control, and dissect complex multicellular behaviors at a level previously only accessible in vivo. ​Our lab broadly investigates how biochemical and mechanical signals at cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesions are coordinated across biological scales (molecules to cells to tissues) to maintain normal tissue structure or drive pathology.

Primary Thematic Area: 
Cancer Biology & Cell Signaling
Secondary Thematic Area: 
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary: 
We develop and apply biomimetic human tissue models to dissect mechanisms of morphogenesis and mechanobiology as applied to cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Websites

Publications: 

Doublecortin reinforces microtubules to promote growth cone advance in soft environments.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology

Dema A, Charafeddine RA, van Haren J, Rahgozar S, Viola G, Jacobs KA, Kutys ML, Wittmann T

Notch1 cortical signaling regulates epithelial architecture and cell-cell adhesion.

The Journal of cell biology

White MJ, Jacobs KA, Singh T, Mayo LN, Lin A, Chen CS, Jun YW, Kutys ML

A 3D biomimetic model of lymphatics reveals cell-cell junction tightening and lymphedema via a cytokine-induced ROCK2/JAM-A complex.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Lee E, Chan SL, Lee Y, Polacheck WJ, Kwak S, Wen A, Nguyen DT, Kutys ML, Alimperti S, Kolarzyk AM, Kwak TJ, Eyckmans J, Bielenberg DR, Chen H, Chen CS

A convolutional neural network STIFMap reveals associations between stromal stiffness and EMT in breast cancer.

Nature communications

Stashko C, Hayward MK, Northey JJ, Pearson N, Ironside AJ, Lakins JN, Oria R, Goyette MA, Mayo L, Russnes HG, Hwang ES, Kutys ML, Polyak K, Weaver VM