D. J. Cohen

Spatial heterogeneity in collective electrotaxis: continuum modelling and applications to optimal control

This study develops a continuum model to explain spatial velocity heterogeneity in collective electrotaxis and applies it to design electric field protocols for controlled tissue migration.

E-cadherin biointerfaces reprogram collective cell migration and cell cycling by forcing homeostatic conditions

This study shows E-cadherin surfaces alter collective cell migration and cell cycling by creating homeostatic conditions through hybrid junctions and reduced focal adhesions.

Pump it up: bioelectric stimulation controls tissue shape and size

This study shows that electrical stimulation can rapidly inflate hollow epithelial tissues by creating ion gradients and osmotic pressure, leading to significant changes in tissue volume and shape.

Short-term stimulation of collective cell migration in tissues reprograms long-term supracellular dynamics

This study shows that short-term bioelectric stimulation of tissue migration reprograms long-term supracellular dynamics, leading to a new migratory state beyond the stimulus.

Self-assembly of tessellated tissue sheets by growth and collision

This study investigates tissue-tissue interactions through collisions and develops a design tool for self-assembling complex tessellations.

Tardigrades exhibit robust inter-limb coordination across walking speeds

This study examines how tardigrades coordinate their legs during walking on different substrates, finding flexible phase offsets between contralateral legs while preserving ipsilateral coordination, similar to insects and crustaceans.

Cellular crowd control: overriding endogenous cell coordination makes cell migration more susceptible to external programming

This study shows that reducing endogenous cell coordination improves external control of collective migration, as demonstrated by enhanced electrotactic control and accelerated wound closure in mouse skin monolayers.

Come together: bioelectric healing-on-a-chip

This paper introduces a healing-on-a-chip device that accelerates wound closure through electrotaxis, demonstrating that electric fields can double healing rates in vitro.

An Easy-to-Fabricate Cell Stretcher Reveals Density-Dependent Mechanical Regulation of Collective Cell Movements in Epithelia

The paper describes a low-cost cell stretcher device that reveals density-dependent mechanical regulation of collective cell movements in epithelia.

Practical Fluorescence Reconstruction Microscopy for Large Samples and Low-Magnification Imaging

This paper demonstrates fluorescence reconstruction microscopy (FRM) can effectively reconstruct epifluorescence images from transmitted light data, even with low-magnification imaging, and provides tools for broader adoption.

Size-dependent patterns of cell proliferation and migration in freely-expanding epithelia

This study shows that expanding epithelial monolayers exhibit size-dependent patterns of proliferation and migration, with memory effects based on initial tissue size rather than current conditions.

SCHEEPDOG: programming electric cues to dynamically herd large-scale cell migration

The paper introduces a bioreactor that uses electric fields to guide cell migration in real-time, demonstrating precise 2D collective migration maneuvers in renal epithelia and skin keratinocytes.

Membrane proximal F-actin restricts local membrane protrusions and directs cell migration

The paper shows that local decreases in membrane proximal F-actin density direct membrane protrusions and cell migration.