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Led by Professor Yvonne Jones at the Division of Structural Biology and Professor David Strutt at the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences, this £3.7 million Wellcome Trust-funded project brings together cutting-edge technology and world-class expertise.

The research investigates how cells organise themselves by breaking symmetry, a key process for building properly functioning tissues in animals. The findings could lead to breakthroughs in treating diseases caused by tissue defects and pave the way for advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Using advanced imaging technologies, including light and electron cryo-microscopy, alongside molecular, cellular, and genetic tools, the team will build a detailed understanding of how protein complexes and cells achieve symmetry breaking to form polarised structures.

Planar polarity is essential for tissue structure and function but remains poorly understood. The research team will map how proteins interact to break symmetry and organise tissues, creating a molecular atlas of planar polarity. This research could help to better understand congenital diseases like neural tube defects and cancer metastasis by identifying key proteins and their roles, opening doors to new diagnostic tools and treatments. It could also support advances in regenerative medicine by uncovering how tissues are organised, with potential applications in repairing damaged organs and engineering artificial tissues.

Professor David Strutt said: 'We’re very excited to be able to join forces between Sheffield and Oxford in this project, allowing us to combine Sheffield’s expertise in the cell and development biology of planar polarity with the world-leading expertise in the structural biology of transmembrane proteins in Oxford.'