Research Themes
Cell signaling is often described in terms of individual pathways and their components. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that pathways do not operate independently. There is considerable "cross-talk" among pathways; cross-talk is the foundation of an integrated cellular information network. Identifying molecular mechanisms that mediate cross-talk is key to understanding the complicated processes that control cell growth and influence carcinogenesis.
Scientists in this program focus on two broad research categories: 1) the direct study of cell signaling in cancer biology and 2) the study of more general cellular functions, using specialized techniques that are relevant to cancer research. Ongoing research can be divided into seven more distinct themes of investigation.
- Cell cycle and mitogenic control
- Translational control
- Cell injury and tumor promotion
- Apoptosis (programmed cell death)
- Immunobiology
- Signaling switches and cascades
- Cytoskeletal, mitogenic and developmental regulation in lower organisms
