Tissue remodelling, fibrosis and cancer

Our research team focuses on the study of the tissue remodelling that occurs during the development, progression and resolution of chronic diseases, with a special emphasis on fibrosis and cancer. Tissue remodelling involves both the cellular components of the tissue and the extracellular matrix (ECM) in a complex interplay where both send signals to each other, triggering important biological events such as cell death/proliferation, ECM synthesis/degradation, regeneration and inflammation among others. Tissue remodelling takes place after any kind of injury and aims to restore the tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of the tissue remodelling response due to chronic injury results in the abnormal accumulation of electrodense ECM, a process also called fibrosis. Fibrosis affects nearly all tissues and leads to the progressive replacement of the functional organ parenchyma by electrodense ECM, which can eventually result in organ failure. Hence, it is not surprising that fibrosis contribut