Our research research focuses on understanding the role of matricellular proteins as modulators of the dynamic cell-cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment during the multistep cascades of cancer initiation, progression, and organ-specific metastasis.

We are integrating cell, molecular, and biochemical approaches, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics in tandem with genetically engineered model systems and primary tumors.

The ultimate goal is to understand the mechanisms of tumor heterogeneity and uncover novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of cancer progression that can be used for patient stratification for personalized cancer therapy.

Research Interests

  • Cancer/oncogenesis
  • Cell growth and differentiation
  • Tumor microenvironment
  • Metastasis
  • Tumor suppressor genes
  • Inflammation
  • Experimental therapeutics