Groundbreaking funding to unlock how cells coordinate development
The Living Systems Institute (LSI) at the University of Exeter has secured a prestigious £3.5 million Wellcome Discovery Award to probe one of biology’s most fundamental questions: how do cells communicate to coordinate the formation of tissues and organs during development? The seven-year project brings together a team of biologists, engineers, and computational scientists, aiming to reveal the cellular conversations that guide life from embryo to mature organism.
What the grant supports
The Wellcome Discovery Award backs ambitious, high-risk projects that could redefine our understanding of biology. In this case, researchers will investigate the signals, pathways, and physical interactions that enable cells to share information, make collective decisions, and organize into complex structures. By combining cutting-edge imaging, single-cell analysis, and novel data models, the team hopes to map the language of cells as they form tissues and organs.
Key aims
- Characterize how cells transmit signals across developing tissues to synchronize growth and patterning.
- Identify how mechanical cues and chemical signals integrate to guide cell fate decisions.
- Develop advanced tools to observe cell communication in real time within living systems.
- Translate discoveries into insights about congenital disorders and regenerative medicine.
Why this research matters
Understanding cell communication in development has far-reaching implications. Developmental illnesses affect millions worldwide, and unveiling how cells coordinate could lead to new therapeutic strategies for birth defects, tissue engineering, and organ regeneration. The Exeter project also aims to create adaptable models that can be applied to other species, expanding our grasp of evolutionarily conserved communication networks among cells.
Interdisciplinary approach for robust discovery
Led from the LSI, the project combines expertise across biology, physics, engineering, and data science. State-of-the-art imaging techniques will visualize cell signaling with unprecedented precision, while single-cell genomics will reveal the genetic programs that govern communication. Computational modeling will integrate these data, providing a systems-level view of how local cellular interactions shape global tissue architecture.
Collaboration and impact
The Wellcome Discovery Award is designed to support teams that push scientific boundaries. The Exeter researchers will collaborate with clinical scientists and other academic partners to ensure discoveries are translated into potential clinical and biomedical applications. Beyond immediate outcomes, the project will train students and early-career researchers in multidisciplinary methods, fostering a new generation of scientists adept at bridging biology with technology.
Timeline and milestones
Over seven years, the team will pursue a series of milestones, beginning with establishing baseline maps of cell communication in well-characterized developmental systems, followed by experiments that perturb signaling to test causal roles. As results emerge, the researchers will refine their models and share open data and tools to accelerate progress in the wider scientific community.
What success could look like
Success would include a detailed atlas of cell communication patterns during key developmental events, validated by experimental perturbations and predictive models. Such outcomes could inform strategies to correct developmental defects, guide tissue engineering efforts, and inspire novel approaches to regenerative therapies, ultimately contributing to healthier futures.
About the funding body
Wellcome Discovery Awards aim to back bold research that advances our understanding of life and health. The Exeter project aligns with Wellcome’s mission to improve health through discovery, collaboration, and innovation.
