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Many experimental techniques and theoretical concepts can be applied to address very different problems, this underpins a strong synergy
between diverse questions we address, and indeed more widely between the disciplines of soft matter physics and biological physics. We work across most of the spectrum of BSS activity, and have strong connections across Cambridge, as one of the PIs in the Cambridge Centre for Physical Biology. A core technique for us is the development of microfluidic devices and structures for cell control, heading towards high throughput single cell resolution imaging, and organ-on-chip devices. This goes hand in hand with automated microscopy and environmental control for well defined long-time microscopy video experiments. We have a track record of developing new useful techniques such as optical tweezers, microrheology methods, custom microscopes, advanced confocal microscopy and image analysis algorithms to quantify dynamics both in living cellular and colloidal systems. The Physics that underpins much of our thinking comes from soft matter physics (liquid interfaces and membranes), statistical mechanics, complex and dynamical systems.
Our work in the last few years has increasingly focused on living systems. Our main efforts at the moment are on:
(1) Understanding ciliated tissues and coordination of motile cilia. We have studied hydrodynamic synchronisation in our long-going model colloidal systems. More recently we have been probing living ciliated cells, particularly the human airways in health and disease. This work is currently funded by GSK and Wellcome grants. Previously funded by: an ERC Consolidator grant; ITN BioPol and PhyMot grants; UK Cystic Fibrosis Trust; UKRI Physics of Life grant.
(2) Physics of bacteria - from cell physiology (control of size and growth rate) down to regulation of gene expression and chromosome packing. Resistance to antibiotics, especially off-target effects. This work started with two HFSP grants with Marco Cosentino Lagomarsino, Bianca Sclavi and Kevin Dorfman. Later funded by a UKRI Physics of Life grant with partners in Sheffield, Edinburgh and Newcastle.
(3) Malaria blood-stage infection - this is work carried out in tight collaboration with Julian Rayner at CIMR, and started with Teresa Tiffert and Virgilio Lew in PDN department. We received funding through an EPSRC Healthcare Technology grant to push the frontier of single-event infection imaging.
(4) Phospholipid membranes, including physical properties of lipid bilayers, self assembly of membranes with DNA nanostructures, vesicles responding to external fields, interface films as models of cell membranes, cell membrane lipidomics. This was funded initially through an (EPSRC Programme grant, CAPITALS) up to 2018. Since then we have been collaborating with Lorenzo Di Michele on these topics.
(5) Whilst we are led by questions, we develop a lot of new hardware and software approaches, including ML. At the moment there is considerable technology development in the team, mainly at around developing single cell imaging systems. We have been funded by EPSRC IAA, EPSRC GCRF (with R.Bowman in Bath) and ERC-PoC grants. We also develop instruments for teaching experimental physics, and questions around the hydrodynamics of quadcopters and their use in environmental monitoring.
(6) Exploring new things! we are often driven by curiosity, and easily distracted by exciting possibilities. A lot of work in the group is carried out in an informal structure, unfunded or through limited pump priming funding. The projects described above, which are those now more established, all started this way. We are currently exploring a variety of things, from yeast growth in confinement to algae and their symbiosis with bacteria and corals. We also look at cell migration and immune system response, and other systems. Of course, collaboration with a variety of Life Sciences partners is essential to make any of this successful.
Follow the links for short overviews of these main current research lines. Go to my complete publication list, searchable by topic and including many pre-prints.
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