I am interested in the interface between biomaterials and cell biology. My lab develops tools such as polymer brushes, peptide-based hydrogels, self-assembled protein interfaces and studies their physico-chemical and biochemical properties. Key questions that these tools will allow us to address are: How do biological, mechanical and chemical properties of bio-materials (whether synthetic or of natural origin) cross-talk to control cell behaviour and in particular stem cell fate decision? How do cells remodel such materials and how does this impact on cell behaviour and tissue formation? Finally, what is the minimum set of rules or properties required to achieve a desired cell or tissue function?