Margaret L. Gardel, PhD

Professor of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology
Horace B. Horton Professor, Physics and Molecular Engineering
Research and Scholarly Interests: Adhesion, Cell, Cell Mechanics, Cytoskeleton, Actin, Migration, Cell, Myosin
Websites: Research Network Profile
Contact: gardel@uchicago.edu
Graduate Programs: Cell & Molecular Biology, UChicago Biosciences, Committee on Cancer Biology

My lab is dedicated to understanding how cell adhesion and migration is regulated by the physical behaviors and structure of the actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesions and cell-cell adhesions and how the physical behaviors of complex cytoskeletal machines emerge from their molecular constituents. We employ approaches from condensed matter physics, cell biology and biochemistry to study the physical properties of the actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions within live cells and in reconstituted systems of purified proteins.

One- and two-particle microrheology of soft materials based on optical-flow image analysis.
One- and two-particle microrheology of soft materials based on optical-flow image analysis. Soft Matter. 2025 Feb 12; 21(7):1373-1381.
PMID: 39865872

Direct detection of deformation modes on varying length scales in active biopolymer networks.
Direct detection of deformation modes on varying length scales in active biopolymer networks. bioRxiv. 2025 Jan 26.
PMID: 37292666

Mechanochemical control systems regulating animal cell size.
Mechanochemical control systems regulating animal cell size. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2024 Dec; 91:102443.
PMID: 39504614

Mechanosensitive FHL2 tunes endothelial function.
Mechanosensitive FHL2 tunes endothelial function. bioRxiv. 2024 Jun 17.
PMID: 38948838

Cracked actin filaments as mechanosensitive receptors.
Cracked actin filaments as mechanosensitive receptors. Biophys J. 2024 10 01; 123(19):3283-3294.
PMID: 38894540

Motor crosslinking augments elasticity in active nematics.
Motor crosslinking augments elasticity in active nematics. Soft Matter. 2024 Mar 13; 20(11):2480-2490.
PMID: 38385209

Highly flexible PEG-LifeAct constructs act as tunable biomimetic actin crosslinkers.
Highly flexible PEG-LifeAct constructs act as tunable biomimetic actin crosslinkers. Soft Matter. 2024 Jan 31; 20(5):971-977.
PMID: 38190228

Machine learning interpretable models of cell mechanics from protein images.
Machine learning interpretable models of cell mechanics from protein images. Cell. 2024 01 18; 187(2):481-494.e24.
PMID: 38194965

Limiting pool and actin architecture controls myosin cluster sizes in adherent cells.
Limiting pool and actin architecture controls myosin cluster sizes in adherent cells. Biophys J. 2024 01 16; 123(2):157-171.
PMID: 38062704

Reconstitution of the transition from a lamellipodia- to filopodia-like actin network with purified proteins.
Reconstitution of the transition from a lamellipodia- to filopodia-like actin network with purified proteins. Eur J Cell Biol. 2023 Dec; 102(4):151367.
PMID: 37890285
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Margaret L. Gardel, PhD

Education & Training

Publications