- Department
- Email Address
- [email protected]
- Research Areas
- Research Keywords
- Research Description
Cells communicate with each other through signaling pathways, many of which are involved in processes such as development and the onset and progression of disease. In my lab, we focus on the Wnt signaling pathway, which is linked to colorectal cancers. I am curious to know how this pathway can turn itself on and off so many times during development and why it fails to turn off in disease.
- Research Summary
Many of the signaling pathways that are involved in development are also involved in the onset and progression of disease. As an example, the Wnt signaling pathway is required during many stages of development and in the homeostasis of stem cells in the adult. Perturbation of this pathway in stem cells in the adult often leads to cancer. It is now known that greater than 90% of colorectal cancers are caused by mutations in the Wnt signaling pathway. As this pathway is important for both proper development and disease, I am curious to know how this pathway can turn it self on and off so many times during development and why it fails to turn off in disease. The lab focuses on two negative feedback regulators of Wnt signaling: Nkd1 and Axin2.
- Techniques Used
Cancer cells for in vitro analysis; zebrafish embryos for in vivo analysis; CRISPR technology.
- Links