Dr. Nicole Murray is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and a Senior Associate Consultant in the Department of Cancer Basic Science, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.

Dr. Murray's laboratory focuses on characterizing the genes involved in the early stages of colon carcinogenesis. Using transgenic mouse models, we evaluate the role of several protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in regulation of colonic epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis which may modulate susceptibility to colon carcinogenesis. These mouse models are also very useful for evaluation of potential chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic agents for the prevention or treatment of colon cancer. We use parallel, in vitro cell culture models to characterize the signal transduction pathways regulated by the PKC isozymes in colon cancer cells. Current investigations involve the interaction of activated ras with colonic PKCiota function in susceptibility to colon carcinogenesis.