Our laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying metastasis, the spread of tumor cells throughout the body. We are particularly involved in studying the role of the extracellular matrix, a fibrillar meshwork of proteins that surrounds both normal and tumor cells. more >>
![Actin filamant bundles in cultured smooth muscle cells. Photo credit: Kwabena Badu-Nkansah](http://hynes-lab.mit.edu/sites/default/files/homepage2/01_kwaby_image_awards_2013.jpg)
![Focal contacts (yellow) and actin filament bundles (purple) in cultured endothelial cells. Photo credit: Kwabena Badu-Nkansah](http://hynes-lab.mit.edu/sites/default/files/homepage2/02_kwaby_image_awards_2011_1.jpg)
![Pericytes (red) surrounding blood vessels (blue).. Photo credit: Chris Turner, Kwabena Badu-Nkansah](http://hynes-lab.mit.edu/sites/default/files/homepage2/03_kwaby_image_awards_2011_2.jpg)
![Fibronectin matrix on cultured cells. Photo credit: Richard Hynes](http://hynes-lab.mit.edu/sites/default/files/homepage2/04_mol_cell_12.jpg)
![Angiogenic sprouting into brain parenchyma. Photo credit: Joseph McCarty](http://hynes-lab.mit.edu/sites/default/files/homepage2/05_mice_tissues_8.jpg)
![Actin filamant bundles in cultured cells. Photo credit: Richard Hynes](http://hynes-lab.mit.edu/sites/default/files/homepage2/06_mol_cell_7.jpg)
![Mouse eye in cross section. Photo credit: Joseph McCarty](http://hynes-lab.mit.edu/sites/default/files/homepage2/07_mice_tissues_5.jpg)