Overview

The FLY ONE Lab is interested in utilizing model organisms, Drosophila, mice and human cancer cells, to understand the molecular basis of human diseases. We are applying a combinatory approach of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and genomics to address fundamental changes in gene expression and signal transduction pathways that control the growth of cancer cells, development of drug/chemical resistance, and innate immunity-mediated cellular defense.

Our lab has three rather different research areas:

1. RAS-Mediated Proteolysis/Oncogenesis. The primary focus of my work is to understand the molecular mechanisms of RAS-mediated proteolysis/oncogenesis.
2. Toxin, Signal Transduction and Drug Resistance. A second area of my interest is to understand the signal transduction events involved in controlling drug resistance development, including anticancer drug resistance.
3. Innate Immunity and Cellular Defense. Drosophila has an innate immune system that is similar to ours. We will use flies to study the role that innate immunity plays in cytoprotection and accommodation in order to develop new and better approaches to transplant medicine.