組織の成長（growth）は発生の主要要素の一つに挙げられるが，成長は“単に組織を大きくするだけ”という印象があり，複雑な形態を実現するための要素という観点からは十分に理解されていない．我々はこれまで，マウス胚といった成長によって膨張する組織において，その表面の組織（脊索など）は膨張によるメカニカルな力を受けて様々な形態を生じうることを理論的に示してきた．すなわち，膨張する側の“場”に対して、表面組織は場から摩擦力を受けて伸長や枝分かれといった組織変形を引き起こす．さらに，表面組織に摩擦力を伝えるECMも摩擦力によって動的に変化し得る，本研究課題では，膨張によって駆動される形態形成現象を新たに探索するとともに，細胞-ECM間の相互作用を考慮した数理モデルの枠組みを開発して両者のダイナミクスを説明する理論を構築する．理論と実験の双方を比較することで摩擦力等の物理パラメータの推定を試みるとともに，組織間の摩擦力による創発現象を理解したい．

Tissue growth is a fundamental element of development; however, its role in generating complex morphologies remains insufficiently understood, as it is often perceived as merely an increase in tissue size. We have previously demonstrated through theoretical models that surface tissues—such as the notochord in mouse embryos—can develop diverse morphologies by responding to mechanical forces generated by the expansion of underlying tissues. Specifically, as the "field" expands, the surface tissue experiences frictional forces from this field, which trigger structural deformations such as elongation and branching. Furthermore, the extracellular matrix (ECM), which mediates these frictional forces, can itself undergo dynamic changes due to those same forces. In this research project, we aim to explore new morphogenetic phenomena driven by expansion and develop a mathematical modeling framework that accounts for cell-ECM interactions to explain their coupled dynamics. By integrating theoretical and experimental approaches, we seek to estimate physical parameters, such as frictional coefficients, and ultimately elucidate the emergent phenomena arising from inter-tissue friction.