Reseach Overview

Our laboratory focuses on the analysis of pathways involved in the initiation, progression, and maintenance of cancer. We use genetically engineered mouse models and primary human tumor samples to understand how tumors respond to chemotherapy and how they become resistant.

We rely on functional genomic approaches including microarrays and high-throughput shRNA screens to identify genes that are relevant to cancer pathogenesis and treatment. We have found cross-species genomic analysis to be a particularly useful tool to identify and characterize novel critical regulators of oncogenesis.

Increasing evidence suggests that at least some tumors contain sub-populations of cells with increased ability to transplant and re-initiate tumorigenesis. We are particularly interested in determining whether these “cancer stem cells” or “tumor re-initiating cells” play a role in driving chemoresistance in vivo.

Current research efforts are focused on:

• *pediatric sarcomas
  
  
• *lung cancer pathogenesis
  
  
• *oncogenic Kras signaling
  
  
• *chemotherapy resistance
  
  

A more detailed description of current research projects can be found in the research section.