Hammer lab

Hammer Laboratory is a research lab focused on cell adhesion, cell motility, and protocell engineering. Its work investigates how cells interact with one another and with surfaces, particularly how blood-borne cells adhere within the microvasculature. These processes help leukocytes enter tissues during inflammation, stem cells reach bone marrow, and T-cells regulate immune responses. The lab develops computational methods, collectively called Adhesive Dynamics, to model cell adhesion and explore how signals inside cells influence adhesive behavior, including in CAR T-cell interactions with tumor cells.

The lab also studies the forces immune cells generate as they move. Using traction force microscopy and CRISPR-Cas9, researchers examine cell migration, chemotaxis, and upstream movement against fluid flow. A further research area is the creation of protocells: cell-like materials made from polymers, dendrimers, and proteins. By incorporating enzymes, the team designs protocells and capsules that can move across surfaces or through solutions. The lab also explores protein condensates as model organelles for storing and releasing molecules, with potential applications in controlling cell behavior.