Viola Vogel
Professor in the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Applied
Mechanobiology
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich

The lecture discusses the limitations of our current understanding of proteins, which is primarily based on the assumption that each protein has a unique structure dictating its function. The talk highlights the importance of considering proteins in non-equilibrium states, subjected to mechanical forces, which play a significant role in biological processes. The emergence of nanotechnology tools has allowed precise probing of these forces on proteins and the manipulation of cellular environments. The lecture emphasizes how cells utilize protein stretching to sense mechanical stimuli, regulate gene transcription, and make decisions. Challenges include the lack of nanoscale sensors to probe forces in healthy and diseased organs. The lecture covers fundamental molecular mechanisms explored through experimental and computational tools, aiming to translate mechanobiological principles into clinical applications, essential for understanding the emerging field of mechanobiology.