Researchers at the Living Systems Institute (LSI), University of Exeter, have been awarded a £3.5 million Wellcome Trust Discovery Award to investigate how cells exchange information to coordinate the formation of tissues and organs. Led by Professor Steffen Scholpp (right) (Cell and Developmental Biology) and Professor Kyle Wedgwood (Computational Biology), the seven-year project will explore the role of cytonemes – long, thin cellular protrusions that act as communication bridges between cells during development. Using advanced imaging, computational modelling, and cross-species analysis, the team aims to uncover the fundamental rules governing long-distance cell communication and its role in shaping developing tissues.