The research focus of the LCBG principal investigators is as follows:
Steven Cappell, Ph.D., focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cell cycle regulation at the single-cell level. In particular, he applies state-of-the-art live-cell imaging approaches and fluorescent biosensors to dissect the dynamic signaling pathways controlling the G1 to S phase transition. His work has shed new light on how cells make the decision to proliferate and the origin of cell-to-cell heterogeneity
Jing Huang, Ph.D., has focused his research program on the epigenetic mechanisms underlying cancer and stem cells, has used genomics to uncover a role for the tumor suppressor p53 in regulating the differentiation of embryonic stem cells during DNA damage.
Kent Hunter, Ph.D., is a pioneer in systems genetics, having demonstrated first in mouse models, and confirming by association studies in cancer patients, that an individual's genetic background has a significant effect on the propensity of their tumors to metastasize; his work has established a new paradigm of inherited susceptibility in metastasis research.
Kenneth Kraemer, M.D., investigates the role of DNA repair in prevention of cancer and in human development. The approach involves integrated clinical, molecular, and translational investigations of disorders with defective DNA repair. Current studies are focusing on two rare genetic diseases: xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) a cancer-prone genetic disease with cellular hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation (UV) and defective DNA repair and trichothiodystrophy (TTD) a disorder with developmental abnormalities and defects in some of the same genes as XP without increased cancer risk.
Ji Luo, Ph.D., focuses on understanding the biology of cancers with mutations in the KRAS oncogene. In particular, he applies functional genomics approaches to dissect genetic dependencies and delineate mechanisms of non-oncogene addictions in KRAS mutant cells in order to identify new therapeutic modalities.
Glenn Merlino, Ph.D., has made key contributions to several areas of basic research, including receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, oncogenic transformation, transcription regulation, cell cycle regulation, and genomic instability, and is now developing new preclinical tools and approaches to determine how metastatic cells survive therapy and recur at distant sites.
Meera Murgai, Ph.D., focuses on understanding the role of perivascular cells and other stromal cells in promoting metastasis. Most recently, her efforts have focused on employing single cell sequencing, immunofluorescent imaging, computational methods, and lineage tracing to elucidate the stromal cell populations that play pro- and anti-tumor roles in pre-metastatic and metastatic microenvironments. Her work has uncovered a previously underappreciated role for perivascular cells to initiate pre-metastatic niche formation.
Senthil Muthuswamy, Ph.D., has pioneered the development and use of three-dimensional (organoid) cell culture to bridge the gap between growing cells as a flat monolayer and tumors growing in vivo. He uses patient tumor organoids to personalize cancer treatment, investigate metastatic cancer progression, understand how cell polarity proteins regulate development of drug resistance, to develop new immune-oncology treatments, and to identify new biomarkers.
Mark Simpson, D.V.M., Ph.D., with specialty board certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, has established and directs a unique University-NCI graduate partnership research training program in comparative molecular pathology. The Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program provides interdisciplinary training for veterinarians in both diagnostic pathology and human disease-oriented medical research in order to increase the synergy for comparative biomedical research interactions and animal model predictability.
Lalage Wakefield, D.Phil., uses mouse models and genomic approaches to address the critical, complex dual role played by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in breast cancer progression, in regulating breast cancer stem cell dynamics, and to develop TGF-beta-based therapeutic strategies.
Li Yang, Ph.D., has focused her research on dissecting the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the metastatic process, with a focus on inflammation and tumor microenvironment. She has demonstrated that the recruitment of immature myeloid cells to the tumor microenvironment is responsible for the switch of TGF-beta signaling from tumor suppressor to tumor promoter.