The Black Box
PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are proteins that control signalling in our body. As ion channels, they help plants, animals and humans to feel touch, in cells, tissues and organs. The reason we feel touch — or even pain — is because of mechanical force. PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are required for cells to sense force.
The reason I am interested in this area is that I want to help brain cancer patients. That’s my passion. I also want to study a less explored area. At my lab, we study how these proteins control tumour growth.
People say there is a marriage between biology and chemistry. But I see much less development in the research that combines biology and physics. Some of the first things we learn about in physics are force and how objects react to force. Yet, there is a very limited understanding of what type of forces exist and how much force there is in brain tumours. We also need to learn more about how tumour cells and non-tumorous cells (like immune cells and neurons) sense and respond to force.
To me, it’s a black box. I want to connect the dots between mechanical force, force sensors and cancer, and develop new ways to treat brain cancer and help patients.
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Xi Huang is an associate professor in Temerty Medicine’s Department of Molecular Genetics, and a senior scientist in the developmental and stem cell biology program at The Hospital for Sick Children. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Cancer Biophysics.
