Our laboratory focuses on . . .

the molecular genetics of cancer genesis, maintenance, and progression, with particular emphasis on malignant melanoma and glioblastoma. As part of a major effort to understand the human oncogenome, we are developing refined mouse models of human cancers for use in functional genomics and genetic screens. Translation of our early discoveries into biomarkers and therapeutic targets - and ultimately into drugs - is now under way.

Oncogenomics

Development of array-based CGH technology and bioinformatic tools has been the early focus of this program, which is now a core component of the US cancer genome project TCGA (The Cancer Genes Atlas). The major goal has been the discovery of cancer-relevant genes. Many novel candidates are being studied on clinicopathological, functional and biological levels. . . . Read More >

Mouse Models of Human Cancers

Conditional transgenic and knockout technologies are used to engineer cancer relevant mutations in the mouse with the goal of generating cancer-prone conditions that recapitulate aspects of the human disease, particularly melanoma. Inducible tumor model where dominant acting oncogene is regulated in a time- and tissue-specific manner are used to characterize the roles of such oncogenic lesion in tumor genesis and maintenance . . . Read More >