# Collective dynamics in cell clusters

> **NIH NIH R01** · PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $315,184

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The proposed research will advance the mechanistic understanding of dynamics in cell clusters
with stable intercellular cytoplasmic bridges. This class of multicellular systems is thought to have
played a role during the emergence of multicellularity and serves critical functions in present day
organisms. Intercellular transport through cytoplasmic bridges gives rise to a wealth of functionally
significant collective effects. One key obstacle in understanding the origins of these effects is the
current lack of tractable experimental systems that can be studied quantitatively. Our research
will use Drosophila oogenesis, an experimental system that provides unmatched opportunities for
quantitative studies. This system relies on two types of cell clusters with cytoplasmic bridges: a
germline-derived cluster containing the future oocyte and 15 nurse cells, and somatic cell clusters
in the epithelium that envelops the germline cluster. Our research identified collective dynamics
in both tissue types. First, we discovered that cells in the germline cluster grow in groups defined
by the cluster's connectivity. Aim 1 tests the hypothesis that this growth pattern depends on
intercellular transport within the cluster and reflects synchronized dynamics of endoreplication cell
cycles. Second, we showed that somatic cell clusters display strong clonal dominance, a
commonly observed, yet poorly understood effect during developmental growth. Aim 2 tests the
hypothesis that clonal dominance emerges as a consequence of spatiotemporal coordination of
mitotic cell cycles. Our work uses live imaging and computational modeling to investigate
emergent dynamics in an important class of multicellular systems. Given the ubiquitous nature of
cell clusters with stable cytoplasmic bridges, results of our studies will have broad impact.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10448474
- **Project number:** 5R01GM134204-04
- **Recipient organization:** PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Stanislav Y. Shvartsman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $315,184
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10448474

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10448474, Collective dynamics in cell clusters (5R01GM134204-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10448474. Licensed CC0.

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