Bernhard Wehrle-Haller

Bernhard Wehrle-Haller is a Professor at the Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, leading research on cellular mechanisms of adhesion, migration, and extracellular matrix remodeling. His work spans mechano-biology, metastasis, and fibrotic pathologies, with a focus on integrin and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling.

Research interests include:

• Understanding how cells sense mechanical properties of their environment (mechanosensing)
• Elucidating integrin-talin interactions in anchorage-dependent survival
• Investigating extracellular matrix dysregulation in cancer metastasis and fibrosis
• Developing therapeutic strategies targeting integrin adapter complexes

Key lab contributions:

• Discovered roles of integrins in drug resistance of cancer cells
• Characterized extracellular matrix remodeling in diabetic kidney fibrosis
• Identified signaling pathways linking mechanosensing to fibrotic deposition