Research Summary
The overarching goal of our laboratory is to elucidate points of fragility for adult and pediatric brain tumors (glioblastoma, ependymoma) using cell and molecular biology as well as animal models and exploit these findings to develop new treatment modalities and/or improve on current standard of care therapies. To this end, we employ a model system based on the finding that brain tumors harbor a subset of cells, termed cancer stem cells, which encompass the most malignant properties of these tumors and drive tumor recurrence. Specific projects in the lab include; elucidating the role of kinesins in the DNA damage response, understanding how chromatin remodeling factors contribute to resistance to radiation, and investigating the pathways involved in the fate switch from invasion to proliferation.
We also study the developing and adult brain with a particular interest in the role of primary cilia in the normal and disease setting.