👉 The WED (Whole-Extracellular Dynamics) research, pioneered by Dr. Mark W. McCullough at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, focuses on understanding how extracellular forces—such as fluid flow, pressure gradients, and mechanical stresses—affect cellular behavior and tissue function. This approach challenges the traditional view that cells are passive entities influenced solely by intracellular factors. Instead, WED research highlights the critical role of the extracellular environment in processes like cell migration, tissue remodeling, and disease progression. By using advanced imaging techniques and computational models, researchers aim to decode how mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix guide cellular decisions, with implications for regenerative medicine, cancer therapy, and understanding inflammatory responses.
