L. Balasubramaniam

The paper shows that substrate stiffness drives mechanical switches in epithelial monolayers, leading to stochastic failure through topological defects.

The paper investigates how epithelial cell monolayers switch from extensile to contractile behavior as intercellular contacts weaken, revealing mechanotransductive responses and implications for cell sorting and tissue dynamics.

The paper shows caveolae regulate epithelial tension through lipid signaling, enabling the elimination of oncogene-transformed cells by apical extrusion.