The Fraley lab is working to advance basic understanding of how pathogenic cells spread through tissues and into the bloodstream. This movement of cells, called metastatic motility, is a key step to the progression of the two diseases we focus on: bacterial bloodstream infection (bacteremia / sepsis) and cancer. We ask basic research questions about the molecular and biomechanical mechanisms by which pathogenic cells interact with components of the host environment to achieve motility using novel 3D culture and matrix engineering approaches, and we seek to relate these to functional motility outcomes in vivo and in the clinic.
Often, we find that scientific understanding is limited by a lack of technology capable of making quantitative and sensitive measurements. To tackle these challenges, a portion of the lab is dedicated to developing cutting edge enabling technologies, often using microfluidics, optical, and computational approaches. We design our technologies with the rigorous demands of a clinical testing environment in mind to ensure that our work is easily reproduced and readily translated.
Fraley lab students experience a highly interdisciplinary training environment. Members of our lab come from multiple engineering disciplines as well as computer science and biology backgrounds.
Tax deductible donations to support our research and the interdisciplinary training of young scientists may be made at the link below.
Often, we find that scientific understanding is limited by a lack of technology capable of making quantitative and sensitive measurements. To tackle these challenges, a portion of the lab is dedicated to developing cutting edge enabling technologies, often using microfluidics, optical, and computational approaches. We design our technologies with the rigorous demands of a clinical testing environment in mind to ensure that our work is easily reproduced and readily translated.
Fraley lab students experience a highly interdisciplinary training environment. Members of our lab come from multiple engineering disciplines as well as computer science and biology backgrounds.
Tax deductible donations to support our research and the interdisciplinary training of young scientists may be made at the link below.