Epithelial Morphogenesis – from 3D cell shapes to 3D tissue shape

Epithelia are fundamental building blocks of life, playing pivotal roles in morphogenesis and are at the origin of most cancers. This talk will explore epithelial organization across scales, from individual cell geometry to tissue-level architecture. I will introduce theoretical work that sheds light on long-standing, unexplained phenomena in epithelial cell organization [1-3], enabling the development of advanced 2D and 3D simulation tools, PolyHoop [4] and SimuCell [5]. These tools allow for data-driven simulations of epithelial dynamics, advancing our understanding of both development and disease. Additionally, I will examine how chemical gradients drive precise epithelial patterning during development [6, 7] and demonstrate how their interplay with geometric and mechanical constraints shapes epithelial morphogenesis. Case studies include neural tube formation [8], lung branching morphogenesis [9], nephrogenesis [10], and bladder cancer progression [11]. By integrating experimental insights with computational approaches, this work offers a comprehensive view of the mechanisms driving epithelial morphogenesis in health and disease.