Research Interests

Purpose: We are driven by discovering unifying theories of nature. With an aim towards transdisciplinarity, we achieve this by developing and applying rigorous mathematics and conceptual reasoning to probe fundamental biosocial questions at an abstract level and, in doing so, uncover hidden connections between fields. We then work with empirical colleagues to further refine and reify these ideas iteratively.

Scientific Philosophy: We are strong proponents of qualitative and hypothesis-generating modeling, "Figure 1 theory", theory building, consilience, and intellectual nomadism. An overview of our lab's approach to science can be found in our recent blog post.

Methods: Eco-evolutionary dynamics, game theory, matrix and integral population models, stochastic simulation, and philosophical deliberation. If you'd like to play around with G functions, check out our software tool here and the corresponding pedagogical website here.

See below for the main projects and research themes our lab is actively working on. For a full list of publications, see our Google Scholar page.

Cancer Evolutionary Ecology

In this research line, we draw on ideas from evolutionary ecology to devise novel treatment strategies for cancer with a focus on evolutionary double binds. Notably, via a tight integration of mathematical modeling, computational biology, and experimental work, we developed the idea of life history enlightened treatments that led to an approved clinical trial (NCT05574712). We are currently applying concepts from community ecology and modern coexistence theory to understand and disrupt intratumoral heterogeneity with the aim of designing first-strike, second-strike extinction therapies.

Relevant Publications

Yang, Y., Bukkuri, A., Poe, D., McLaughlin, J., Hao, S., Brown, D.D., Kedziora, K.M., Stallaert, W. (2026). Distinct p21 dynamics drive alternative routes to whole-genome duplication through a common CDK4/6-dependent polyploid G0 state. bioRxiv, 1-50. Link.

Bukkuri, A., McLaughlin, J., Duncan, A.W., Stallaert, W. (In Press). Life History Enlightened Therapies: Cell Cycle Mapping to Identify Molecular Targets to Prevent Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, 1-18. Link.

Bhattacharya, R., Avdieiev, S., Bukkuri, A., Whelan, C., Gatenby, R., Tsai, K., Brown, J.S. (2025). The Hallmarks of Cancer as Eco-Evolutionary Processes. Cancer Discovery, 15(4), 685-701.

Bukkuri, A., Andersson, S., Brown, J.S., Hammarlund, E.U., Mohlin, S. (2024). Cell Types or Cell States? An Investigation of Adrenergic and Mesenchymal Cell Phenotypes in Neuroblastoma. iScience, 27(111433), 1-9. PDF.

Carroll, C.P., Manaprasertsak, A., Castro, A.B., van den Bos, H., Spierings, D., Wardenaar, R. Bukkuri, A., Engström, N., Baratchart, E., Yang, M., Biloglav, A., Cornwallis, C., Johansson, B., Hagerling, C., Arsenian-Henriksson, M., Paulsson, K, Amend, S., Mohlin, S., Foijer, F., McIntyre, A., Pienta, K.J., Hammarlund, E.U. (2024). Drug-resilient cancer cell phenotype is acquired via polyploidization associated with early stress response coupled to HIF-2α transcriptional regulation. Cancer Research Communications, 4(3), 691–705. Link.

Bukkuri, A. (2024). Modeling Stress-Induced Responses: Plasticity in Continuous State Space and Gradualistic Clonal Evolution. Theory in Biosciences, 143(1), 1-15. Link. PDF Link.

Bukkuri, A., Pienta, K.J., Hockett, I., Austin, R.H., Hammarlund, E.U., Amend, S.R., Brown, J.S. (2023). Modeling Cancer’s Ecological and Evolutionary Dynamics. Medical Oncology, 40(109), 1-14.

Bukkuri, A., Pienta, K.J., Amend, S.R., Austin, R.H., Hammarlund, E.U., Brown, J.S. (2023). The Contribution of Evolvability to the Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics of Competing Species. Ecology and Evolution, 13(10591), 1-18.

Bukkuri, A., Pienta, K.J., Austin, R.H., Hammarlund, E.U., Amend, S.R., Brown, J.S. (2023). A Mathematical Investigation of Polyaneuploid Cancer Cell Memory and Cross-Resistance in State-Structured Cancer Populations. Scientific Reports, 13(15027), 1-11. PDF.

Bukkuri, A., Pienta, K.J., Austin, R.H., Hammarlund, E.U., Amend, S.R., Brown, J.S. (2022). Stochastic Models of Mendelian and Reverse Transcriptional Inheritance in State-Structured Cancer Populations. Nature Scientific Reports, 12(13079), 1-13. PDF.

Bukkuri, A., Pienta, K.J., Austin, R.H., Hammarlund, E.U., Amend, S.R., Brown, J.S. (2022). A Life History Model of the Ecological and Evolutionary Dynamics of Polyaneuploid Cancer Cells. Nature Scientific Reports, 12(13713), 1-12. PDF.

Bukkuri, A., Gatenby, R.A., Brown, J.S. (2022). GLUT1 Production in Cancer Cells: A Tragedy of the Commons. Nature Project Journal Systems Biology and Applications, 8(22), 1-13. PDF.

Cunningham, J., Bukkuri, A., Brown, J.S., Gillies, R.J., Gatenby, R.A. (2021). Coupled Source-Sink Habitats Produce Spatial and Temporal Variation of Cancer Cell Molecular Properties as an Alternative to Branched Clonal Evolution and Stem Cell Paradigms. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9(676071), 1-15. PDF.

Bukkuri, A., Brown, J.S. (2021). Evolutionary Game Theory: Darwinian Dynamics and the G Function Approach. Games, 12(4), 72, 1-19.

Cancer Social Science

Many aspects of oncogenesis, from signaling and resource acquisition to division of labor and mutualisms, can be viewed through the lens of social science. In this research program, we draw on biosemiotics, economics, criminology, political science, anthropology, and sociology to develop a novel research paradigm for understanding and treating cancer. The main question we seek to address is: "How do deviant actors arise and interact with external factors to promote the collapse of communication networks in their society, thereby facilitating their expansion?"

Relevant Publications

Bukkuri, A., Adler, F.R. (2024). Of Criminals and Cancer: The Importance of Social Bonds and Innate Morality on Cellular Societies. Cells & Development, 180(203964), 1-6. Link.

Bukkuri, A., Adler, F.R. (2023). Biomarkers or Biotargets? Using Competition to Lure Cancer Cells into Evolutionary Traps. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 11(1), 264-276. PDF.

Bukkuri, A., Gatenby, R.A., Brown, J.S. (2022). GLUT1 Production in Cancer Cells: A Tragedy of the Commons. Nature Project Journal Systems Biology and Applications, 8(22), 1-13. PDF.

Bukkuri, A., Adler, F.R. (2021). Viewing Cancer Through the Lens of Corruption: Using Behavioral Ecology to Understand Cancer. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9(678533), 1-14. PDF.

Bukkuri, A., Adler, F.R. Mathematical Modeling of Field Cancerization through the Lens of Cancer Behavioral Ecology. Under Review, 1-12. Preprint.

Eco-Evolutionary Theory

Alongside our applied work, we also advance the theory of evolutionary games. Our efforts have primarily focused on developing methods to model eco-evolutionary dynamics in structured populations, but we are also interested in evolution in linked multi-trait systems, multi-level selection, multi-agent evolutionary signaling games, and the intersection of evolutionary game theory and philosophy (including formal epistemology).

Relevant Publications

Bukkuri, A., Streipert, S., Kang, Y. (2026). Darwinian Dynamics of Host-Pathogen Interactions. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 23(4), 845-883. Link. PDF Link.

Bukkuri, A. (2024). Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics of Structured Populations in Periodically Fluctuating Environments: A G Function Approach. Theory in Biosciences, 143, 293-299. Link. PDF Link.

Bukkuri, A. (2024). Modeling Stress-Induced Responses: Plasticity in Continuous State Space and Gradualistic Clonal Evolution. Theory in Biosciences, 143(1), 1-15. Link. PDF Link.

Bukkuri, A., Brown, J.S. (2023). Integrating Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics into Matrix Population Models for Structured Populations: Discrete and Continuous Frameworks. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 14(6), 1475-1488. PDF.

"I am not a donkey, I don't have a field" - Max Weber

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse