© Maik Bischoff

Research Topics

We study how organs are sculpted by mesenchymal layers such as musculature. Mesenchymal tissues actively shape organs through their elasticity, force generation, and migratory dynamics. These cells can also perform complex, rule-based collective behaviors reminiscent of animal swarms. How are such emergent behaviors harnessed to precisely shape organ geometry? We are further interested in organ chirality. Many organs, such as the gut or heart, exhibit not only defined shapes but also a characteristic left–right handedness that is crucial for their function. While molecular chirality is known to play an instructive role, it remains unclear how molecular handedness influences cellular decision-making and collective behavior to create organ-level asymmetry. To address these questions, we use Drosophila as a model system and combine molecular genetics, quantitative cell biology, and cutting-edge live cell microscopy.

Selected Publications

  • Bischoff, M. C.*, and Mayor, R. (2025). Patterning in motion: Cell interfaces guide mesenchymal collective migration and morphogenesis. Journal of Cell Biology, 224(11), e202505198. doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202505198
  • Bischoff, M. C.*, Norton, J. E., Clark, S. E., and Peifer, M.* (2025). Plexin/Semaphorin antagonism orchestrates collective cell migration and organ sculpting by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal balance. Science Advances, 11(25), eadu3741. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adu3741
  • Bischoff, M. C.*, Norton, J. E., Munguia, E. A., Clark, S. E., Gurley, N. J., Korankye, R., Addai Gyabaah, E., Encarnacion, T., Serody, C., Jones, C., and Peifer, M.* (2025). A large reverse-genetic screen identifies numerous regulators of testis nascent myotube collective cell migration and collective organ sculpting. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 36(2), ar21. doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E24-10-0456
  • Bischoff, M. C., and Bogdan, S.* (2021). Collective cell migration driven by filopodia—New insights from the social behavior of myotubes. BioEssays, 43(11), 2100124. doi.org/10.1002/bies.202100124
  • Bischoff, M. C., Lieb, S., Renkawitz-Pohl, R., and Bogdan, S.* (2021). Filopodia-based contact stimulation of cell migration drives tissue morphogenesis. Nature Communications, 12(1), 791. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20362-2

* corresponding author