Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis

The overall goal of the Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program is to understand normal and malignant cell growth and differentiation. The program consists of two synergistic research divisions. The Cancer Biology Division focuses on the roles of specific signaling pathways, oncogenes, growth factors, and the cellular microenvironment on tumor development and progression. A major objective is to better understand the biological impact of specific molecular events associated with tumor formation and the progression toward metastatic disease. The Systems Biology Division has a long-term goal of developing global perspectives of how specific molecular events implicated in tumor development and progression are manifested at the level of the cell, tissue and interacting systems in the organism. Member laboratories are studying large protein complexes and cellular machines, how cellular networks respond to different signaling pathways, and changes in global patterns of gene expression at the genetic and protein levels influence normal and disease processes. Current and emerging investigative strategies and disciplines that are particularly critical for systems analyses of human diseases include nucleotide microarrays, proteomics, computational biology, and functional genomics..