A computational modelling of cellular and supra-cellular networks to unravel the control of EMT

"Over the last decade, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) has gained the attention of cancer researchers due to its potential to promote cancer migration and metastasis. However, the complexity of EMT intertwined regulation and the involvement of multiple signals in the tumour microenvironment have been limiting the understanding of how this process can be controlled. Cell-cell adhesion and focal adhesion dynamics are two critical properties that change during EMT, which provide a simple way to characterize distinct modes of cancer migration. Therefore, the main focus of this thesis is to provide a framework to predict critical microenvironment and de-regulations in cancer that drive interconversion between adhesion phenotypes, accounting for main microenvironment signals and signalling pathways in EMT. Here, we address this issue through a systems approach using the logical modelling framework to generate new testable predictions for the field.(...)"Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (FCG-IGC