Patterns in motion: Choreographing dynamic cell behaviours during tissue repair

Tissue repair is a dynamic, multicellular response that relies on the precise spatiotemporal coordination of diverse cell types. Here, we discuss how recent advances have accelerated our mechanistic understanding of these collective cellular behaviours, particularly in epithelial barrier tissues like the skin. We highlight studies unravelling the intricate crosstalk that patterns cell behaviours across the repairing tissue and how vulnerable cells are endowed with striking stress resilience and memory. The integration of cutting-edge live imaging, single-cell profiling and computational approaches are now revealing the complexities of effective and pathological repair at an unprecedented resolution, opening new avenues for therapeutic intervention.