Endogenous molecules play important roles in the growth and metastasis of cancer. We had demonstrated that the endogenous tissue dopamine is lost in gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancers. Because endogenous GI tract dopamine regulates several important physiological functions of the GI tract, my interest is therefore to elucidate the role of dopamine in GI tract cancers (Clinical Cancer Research 2004, 10: 4349; Clinical Cancer Research 2008,14:2502).

Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis (bone marrow-derived progenitor cell-mediated) are essential for several physiological and pathological processes. My interest is to identify and explore the role of regulators (such as the neurotransmitter dopamine) of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis (Nature Medicine 2001, 7:569; Journal of Clinical Investigation 2008, 118:1380) and to develop anti-angiogenic therapy utilizing small endogenous molecules.

Neuro-immune interaction is now a well established phenomenon. My interest is to investigate the role of neuro-immune interactions in different physiological and pathological conditions (The Journal of Immunology 2006, 177: 7525).