Professor Weitz's group studies the mechanical properties of cells and other biomaterials, such as actin networks. By inserting these probe particles into different regions of a cell, the group can measure the local elasticity within the cells and investigate the role the local properties play in the mechanical properties of larger biological systems. In addition, the group is developing fluorescent tagging methods to track the motion of single molecules within cells to investigate molecular transport and function at the cellular level. These studies are used to investigate some of the underlying processes that may be important in next generation drug delivery. Professor Howe's group focuses on biomechanics and medical instrumentation.
Several projects investigate tactile sensing and dexterous manipulation.
One goal is to determine human strategies for modulating the mechanical impedance of the fingers in fast or unpredictable settings such as drumming or catching. Other projects measure and model human tactile response in tasks like medical palpation, where the sense of touch is used to determine the anatomical and mechanical properties of soft tissues. These biomechanics studies are used in the development of instrumentation for a variety of medical applications. One example is tactile imaging, a new medical imaging technique that can quantify the results of palpation exams, which is particularly promising for breast cancer surveillance. A number of applications in robotics for minimally invasive surgery are also under development.