We are interested in how signals from the microenvironment modulates important cellular functions.  The activities of cells in multicellular organisms might be divided into the questions of what, why and how.  “What” is a question of phenotype - what actions does a cell carry out.  “Why” is largely a question of signals from the outside.  “How” focuses on the detailed biochemistry and biophysics of carrying out the “what” in response to the “why”.  My laboratory focuses on the why part of this question, with an emphasis on the cellular microenvironment.  One of the primary determinants of cellular activity in the body of an animal is the microenvironment, which is defined by the chemical and physical composition of the material that immediately surrounds cell, and is often composed of other cells, extracellular matrix and extracellular fluids.  But studying the role of the cellular microenvironment is essentially intractable in vivo, because we do not have effective tools to independently manipulate the various components and properties of the microenvironment.  This limitation is addressed by using cell culture in vitro - but there cells loose many of their natural physiological responses and functions.  Over the past 20-30 years microfabrication and material science technologies have improved dramatically, and become increasingly accessible to biological and biomedical research.  This offers a way to improve cell culture environments by building in natural and biomimetic properties that prompt more natural responses from cells.  But it also offers an experimental opportunity to study the relationship between the extracellular environment, and the physiological response of cells to signals from the outside.  Thus the thrust of our effort now is to use engineered systems to understand the role the cellular microenvironment plays in processes such as cancer, angiogenesis and wound healing, as well as developing an understanding of basic biophysical processes involved in the interaction of cells with their surrounds.