I am a member of the Cancer Biology Program at the OSUCCC – James, where my research focuses on how communication between cells regulates embryonic development and how disruptions in cell signaling contribute to human disease.

My lab team studies a cell signaling pathway called the Notch pathway that is critical for normal embryo development and is dysregulated in numerous cancers. For instance, activating Notch mutations are seen in over 50% of juvenile T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cases. Lunatic fringe (Lfng) is a key modulator of Notch signaling and, during development, links it to a cellular clock that times somitogenesis.

One major focus of my research is to understand the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms that control the oscillatory activity of Lfng in the segmentation clock. This research provides key insights into more general mechanisms that control the spatial and temporal activation of the Notch pathway.

Additionally, I have authored or co-authored publications in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Cancer Research, EMBO Reports and International Journal of Developmental Biology.