The research in my laboratory bridges genetics, cancer biology and developmental biology. Using the genetically tractable Drosophila model, we seek to understand how cell growth, proliferation and polarity are regulated during development, and how their deregulation may result in uncontrolled growth, loss of tissue integrity, and neoplastic tumor transformation. Currently, we focus on the following research projects:
Characterization of “tumor hotspots”, the tissue microenvironment for tumorigenesis
A transition zone model for oncogenic Notch induced neoplastic-tumorigenesis
Drosophila model for pediatric malignant rhabdoid tumors
Tissue homeostasis through cell competition and compensatory cellular hypertrophy