Research
1. Development of automated methods for tracking cell shapes, quantification of the fluorescence intensity of tagged proteins and the development of cell behaviour metrics and analyses.
2. Understanding the kinematics and mechanics of cell intercalation and cell division in vivo.
3. Drosophila germ-band extension and zebrafish trunk ectoderm as models for understanding the integration of cell intrinsic and extrinsic forces during animal morphogenesis.
4. Actomyosin & cell shape fluctuations and their role in epithelial contractility. Using myosin motor fluorescence intensity as a proxy for force & inferring epithelial material properties.
5. Quantitative aspects of the dynamics of various other model systems: Early zebrafish forebrain morphogenesis; early development of the Drosophila salivary gland; mouse gastrulation.
Recent papers
Blanchard GB†*, Scarpa E†, Muresan L & Sanson B*. (2024) Mechanical stress combines with planar polarised patterning during metaphase to orient embryonic epithelial cell divisions. Development, 151(10). Doi: 10.1242/dev.202862.
Article
Lye CM, Blanchard GB, Evans J, Nestor-Bergmann A & Sanson B. (2024) Polarised cell intercalation during Drosophila axis extension is robust to an orthogonal pull by the invaginating mesoderm. PLoS Biology, 22(4): e3002611. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002611.
Article
Nestor-Bergmann A, Blanchard GB, Hervieux N , Fletcher AG, Étienne J & Sanson B. (2022) Adhesion-regulated junction slippage controls cell intercalation dynamics in an Apposed-Cortex Adhesion Model. PLoS Comp. Biol. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009812.
Article
Sharrock TE, Blanchard GB, Evans J & Sanson B. (2022) Different temporal requirements for the LRR transmembrane receptors Tartan and Toll-2 in the formation of contractile interfaces at compartmental boundaries. Development, 49(21). Doi: 10.1242/dev.200292.
Article
Fierling J, John A, Delorme B, Torzynski A, Blanchard GB, Lye CM, Malandain G, Sanson B, Étienne J, Marmottant P, Quilliet C & Rauzi M. (2022) Embryo-scale epithelial buckling forms a propagating furrow that initiates gastrulation. Nature Communications, 13(3348). Doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30493-3.
Article
Sanchez-Corrales YE, Blanchard GB & Röper K. (2021) Correct regionalisation of a tissue primordium is essential for coordinated morphogenesis. eLife. Doi: 10.7554/eLife.72369.
Article
Moreno L, et al. (2020) Accelerating drug development for neuroblastoma: Summary of the Second Neuroblastoma Drug Development Strategy forum from Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer and International Society of Paediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma. European Journal of Cancer, 136:52-68. Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.05.010.
Article pdf
Strawbridge SE, Blanchard GB, Smith A, Kugler H & Martello G (2020) Embryonic stem cells commit to differentiation by symmetric divisions following a variable lag period. bioRxiv. Doi: 10.1101/2020.06.17.157578.
Article
Finegan TM*, Hervieux N*, Nestor-Bergmann A, Fletcher AG, Blanchard GB & Sanson B (2019) The tricellular vertex-specific adhesion molecule Sidekick facilitates polarised cell intercalation during Drosophila axis extension. PLoS Biology, 17(12): e3000522. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000522.
Article pdf
*Blanchard GB, *Fletcher AG & *Schumacher LJ. (2019) The devil is in the mesoscale: mechanical and behavioural heterogeneity in collective cell movement. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 93:46-54. Doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.06.003.
Article
Sanchez-Corrales YE, *Blanchard GB & *Röper K. (2018) Radially-patterned cell behaviours during tube budding from an epithelium. eLife, 7:e35717, Doi: 10.7554/eLife.35717.
Article CoB preLight
Blanchard GB. (2018) A 3D cell shape found in sheets and tubes. Nature, 561:182-3. Doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-06162-1.
Article pdf
Collaborators
Bénédicte Sanson, Claire Lye, Alex Nestor-Bergmann & Tom Sharrock, PDN, Cambridge
Elena Scarpa, PDN, Cambridge
Jocelyn Etienne, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique (LIPHY), Grenoble
Alex Fletcher, Maths & Stats, Sheffield (Chaste modelling platform)
Katja Röper & Yara Sanchez-Corrales, MRC/LMB, Cambridge
Nicole Gorfinkiel, Dept. Genetics, Physiology & Microbiology, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM)
Alexandre Kabla, Engineering, Cambridge
Richard Adams, PDN, Cambridge
Publications
[†first equal, *co-corresponding]
A: Automated cell tracking and strain rate mapping
Blanchard GB (2017) Taking the strain: quantifying the contributions of all cell behaviours to changes in epithelial shape. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 372: 20150513, Doi: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0513.
Article pdf Cover picture
Blanchard GB & Adams RJ (2011) Measuring the multi-scale integration of mechanical forces during morphogenesis. Current Opinion in Genes & Development, 21:653-663.
Pubmed pdf
Kabla AJ, Blanchard GB, Adams RJ & Mahadevan L (2010) Bridging cell and tissue behaviour in embryo development, In ‘Cell Mechanics: From Single Scale-Based Models to Multiscale Modelling’ Eds. Chauvière A, Preziosi L & Verdier C, Chapman & Hall.
Blanchard GB, Kabla AJ, Schultz NL, Butler LC,Sanson B, Gorfinkiel N, Mahadevan L & Adams RJ (2009) Tissue tectonics: morphogenetic strain rates, cell shape change and intercalation. Nature Methods, 6:458-464.
Pubmed pdf Supplementary
B: Cell division
Blanchard GB†*, Scarpa E†, Muresan L & Sanson B*. (2024) Mechanical stress combines with planar polarised patterning during metaphase to orient embryonic epithelial cell divisions. Development, 151(10). Doi: 10.1242/dev.202862.
Article
Scarpa E, Finet C, Blanchard GB & Sanson B. (2018) Actomyosin-driven tension at compartmental boundaries orients cell division independently of cell geometry in vivo. Developmental Cell, 47(6):727-740. Doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.10.029.
Article
C: Convergence and extension: intrinsic & extrinsic mechanisms
Lye CM, Blanchard GB, Evans J, Nestor-Bergmann A & Sanson B. (2024) Polarised cell intercalation during Drosophila axis extension is robust to an orthogonal pull by the invaginating mesoderm. PLoS Biology, 22(4): e3002611. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002611.
Article
Nestor-Bergmann A, Blanchard GB, Hervieux N , Fletcher AG, Étienne J & Sanson B. (2022) Adhesion-regulated junction slippage controls cell intercalation dynamics in an Apposed-Cortex Adhesion Model. PLoS Comp. Biol. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009812.
Article
Sharrock TE, Blanchard GB, Evans J & Sanson B. (2022) Different temporal requirements for the LRR transmembrane receptors Tartan and Toll-2 in the formation of contractile interfaces at compartmental boundaries. Development, 49(21). Doi: 10.1242/dev.200292.
Article pdf
Finegan TM*, Hervieux N*, Nestor-Bergmann A, Fletcher AG, Blanchard GB & Sanson B (2019) The tricellular vertex-specific adhesion molecule Sidekick facilitates polarised cell intercalation during Drosophila axis extension. PLoS Biology, 17(12): e3000522. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000522.
Article pdf
Dicko M, Saramito P, Blanchard GB, Lye CM, Sanson B & Étienne J. (2017) Geometry can provide long-range mechanical guidance for embryogenesis. PLoS Computational Biology, 13(3): e1005443. Doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005443.
Article
†Tetley R, *†Blanchard GB, Fletcher AJ, Adams RJ & *Sanson B. (2016) Cell rearrangements at Myosin II-enriched boundaries drive Drosophila axis extension. eLife, 5: e12094.
Pubmed Article
Lye CM, Blanchard GB, Huisken J, Adams RJ & Sanson BS. (2015) Mechanical coupling between invagination movements and axis extension in Drosophila. PLOS Biology, 13(11): e1002292.
Pubmed pdf
†Butler LC, †Blanchard GB, Kabla AJ, Lawrence NJ, Welchman DP, Mahadevan L, Adams RJ & Sanson B (2009) Cell shape changes indicate a role for extrinsic tensile forces in Drosophila germband extension. Nature Cell Biology, 11:859-864.
Pubmed pdf Supplementary
D: Actomyosin fluctuations, epithelial contractility and modeling forces
Fierling J, John A, Delorme B, Torzynski A, Blanchard GB, Lye CM, Malandain G, Sanson B, Étienne J, Marmottant P, Quilliet C & Rauzi M. (2022) Embryo-scale epithelial buckling forms a propagating furrow that initiates gastrulation. Nature Communications, 13(3348). Doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30493-3.
Article
*Blanchard GB, *Fletcher AG & *Schumacher LJ. (2019) The devil is in the mesoscale: mechanical and behavioural heterogeneity in collective cell movement. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 93:46-54. Doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.06.003.
Article
*Blanchard GB, *Etienne J & *Gorfinkiel N. (2018) From pulsatile apicomedial contractility to effective epithelial mechanics. Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, 51:78-87. Doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2018.07.004.
Article pdf
Machado PF, Duque J, Etienne J, Arias AM, *Blanchard GB & *Gorfinkiel N. (2015) Active rheology and emergent material properties of developing epithelial tissues. BMC Biology, 13:98.
Pubmed pdf
Machado PF, Blanchard GB, Duque J & Gorfinkiel N (2014) Cytoskeletal turnover and Myosin contractility drive cell autonomous oscillations in a model of Drosophila Dorsal Closure. European Physical Journal-Special Topics, 223:1391-1402.
Article pdf
Fischer SC, Blanchard GB, Duque J, Adams RJ, Arias AM, Guest SD & Gorfinkiel N (2014) Contractile and mechanical properties of epithelia with perturbed actomyosin dynamics. PLoS One, 9:e95695.
Pubmed pdf
*Gorfinkiel N & *Blanchard GB (2011) Dynamics of actomyosin contractile activity during epithelial morphogenesis. Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 23:531-539.
Pubmed Article
Gorfinkiel N, Schamberg S & Blanchard GB (2011) Integrative approaches to morphogenesis: lessons from Dorsal Closure. Genesis, 49:522-533.
Pubmed pdf
*Blanchard GB, Murugesu S, Adams RJ, Martinez-Arias A & *Gorfinkiel N (2010) Cytoskeletal dynamics and supra-cellular organization of cell shape fluctuations during dorsal closure. Development, 137:2743-2752.
Pubmed Article Supplementary
Gorfinkiel N, Blanchard GB, Adams RJ & Arias AM (2009) Mechanical control of global cell behaviour during Dorsal Closure in Drosophila. Development, 136:1889-1898.
Pubmed pdf Supplementary
E: Tube formation in the Drosophila salivary placode
Sanchez-Corrales YE, Blanchard GB & Röper K. (2021) Correct regionalisation of a tissue primordium is essential for coordinated morphogenesis. eLife. Doi: 10.7554/eLife.72369.
Article
Blanchard GB. (2018) A 3D cell shape found in sheets and tubes. Nature, 561, 182-3. Doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-06162-1.
Article pdf
Sanchez-Corrales YE, *Blanchard GB & *Röper K. (2018) Radially-patterned cell behaviours during tube budding from an epithelium. eLife, 7:e35717, Doi: 10.7554/eLife.35717.
Article CoB preLight
Booth AJ, Blanchard GB, Adams RJ & Roper K (2014) A Dynamic Microtubule Cytoskeleton Directs Medial Actomyosin Function during Tube Formation. Developmental Cell, 29:562-76.
Pubmed pdf
F: Early zebrafish forebrain morphogenesis
Young S, Jennings JN, Blanchard GB, Kabla AJ & Adams RJ (2015) Tissue dynamics of the forebrain neural plate. BioRxiv.
Article
England SJ, Blanchard GB, Mahadevan L & Adams RJ (2006) A dynamic fate map of the forebrain shows how vertebrate eyes form and explains two causes of cyclopia. Development, 133:4613-4617.
Pubmed Article Supplementary
G: Stem cell differentiation
Strawbridge SE, Blanchard GB, Smith A, Kugler H & Martello G (2020) Embryonic stem cells commit to differentiation by symmetric divisions following a variable lag period. bioRxiv. Doi: 10.1101/2020.06.17.157578.
Article
H: Neuroblastoma
Moreno L, et al. (2020) Accelerating drug development for neuroblastoma: Summary of the Second Neuroblastoma Drug Development Strategy forum from Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer and International Society of Paediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma. European Journal of Cancer, 136:52-68. Doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.05.010.
Article pdf
Bell E, Chen L, Viprey VF & Blanchard GB (2014) Meeting report: 3rd Neuroblastoma Research Symposium, Liverpool, 6-7th November, 2013. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 61:1711–1713.
Pubmed pdf
I: Collective behaviour of ant colonies
Sumpter DJT, Blanchard GB & Broomhead DS (2001) Ants and agents: A process algebra approach to modelling ant colony behaviour. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, 63:951-980.
Pubmed pdf
Cox M & Blanchard GB (2000) Gaseous templates in ant nests. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 204:223-238.
Pubmed pdf
Blanchard GB, Orledge GM, Reynolds SE & Franks NR (2000) Division of labour and seasonality in the ant Leptothorax albipennis: worker corpulence and its influence on behaviour. Animal Behaviour, 59:723-738.
Pubmed pdf
Blanchard GB. Ants Through the Looking Glass. PhD thesis, University of Bath.