research

Research Projects

Current Focus

Integrated and Translational Cancer Research Lab

• Genomic instability is a major driver of cancer initiation and progression. It causes mutations that accumulate through cell division, disrupting essential cellular functions such as DNA repair and cell cycle regulation. This instability ultimately leads to cancer and hereditary diseases by interfering with normal cellular metabolism.
  
  

• Chemotherapy is a widely used and aggressive cancer treatment. Unlike localized therapies such as surgery or radiation, chemotherapy is a systemic, non-specific approach that affects both cancerous and healthy tissues, often leading to significant side effects. Individual differences in genetic makeup and environmental factors influence gene expression and drug response, resulting in varying levels of drug sensitivity, resistance, and side effects. These differences highlight the need for personalized cancer therapy tailored to each patient’s genetic profile.
  
  

Research Goals

Aim 1. Investigate the mechanisms of tumorigenesis under various cellular stress conditions.

Aim 2. Identify genetic and pharmacological factors that regulate drug resistance.

Aim 3. Develop personalized cancer therapies through genomic analysis and mechanistic studies of patient-derived cancer cells.