The goal of our laboratory is to advance the mechanistic understanding of cancer initiation, metastasis and therapy resistance.

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Our current focus is the biology of sarcomas and lung cancer. Using mouse models, functional genomics, imaging, bioinformatics and other tools, we study both cell-intrinsic and microenvironment changes that facilitate tumor progression and dissemination. We utilize genetically engineered mouse models (GEMs) as well as human-derived models (PDX) in our work. Using both human and mouse models, we take advantage of the power of genetics to evaluate mechanism of cancer progression. 

 

Our diverse team includes physician-scientists, cancer biologists, computational biologists, and graduate students, all working together to discover new aspects of cancer biology and bring more effective therapies to patients.

 

Our lab is affiliated with the following graduate programs at UCSF:
•    Biomedical Sciences (BMS)
•    Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics (PSPG)

 

Our laboratory is highly collaborative and well-integrated into the larger UCSF community.  The lab has affiliations with the Helen Diller Family Cancer Center, the Bakar Institute for Computational Health Sciences and is part of the division of pediatric oncology at UCSF. Due to the large clinical volume at UCSF hospitals, we have direct access to patient samples, providing the laboratory opportunities to translate our work. 

 

Our laboratory is supported by the National Cancer Institute as well as numerous private foundations including Hyundai Hope on Wheels, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, MIB Agents, the Battle Osteosarcoma Foundation, the Rally Foundation, and the American Lung Association, among others.