Making a difference…
It is estimated that in excess of 60,000 people in the US develop leukemia every year, with one third of patients presenting with AML. We are working to understand how genetic alterations drive AML and hope to identify better ways to treat the disease.
Our Mission
We aim to understand the causative mechanisms underlying hematopoietic cell aging, leukemia, and bone marrow failure and contribute to its cure.
In order to achieve this, we are currently focused on two overarching projects within the lab. The first relates to the nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene and its role in hematopoiesis and leukemia, and the second on understanding the role of the ribosome and the process of cellular translation in hematopoietic disease.
NPM1 is one of the most frequently mutated genes in AML, with up to 30% of AML patients harboring a mutation in the gene (aka NPMc+). These mutations occur towards the very end of the NPM1 gene, changing the protein’s localization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. This is known to disrupt normal functions of NPM1, as well disrupt the function of many NPM1 interaction partners within the nucleus. NPM1 plays a number of roles within the cell including regulation of transcription and regulation of ribosome biogenesis and ribosomal modification. We are working to understand what is the normal function of NPM1 in hematopoiesis, and what are the consequences of the NPMc+ and other NPM1 mutations in leukemia and bone marrow failure, particularly in the context of ribosome regulation.
The ribosome is a complex macromolecular machine within the cell that mediates the translation of messenger RNA (mRNA) to protein. Its proper function is essential for correct gene expression within the cell, and it is gaining increasing prominence as a critical regulator of normal hematopoiesis. Our aim is to understand how modifications to the ribosome influence its function and how cell signaling pathways regulate the ribosome and translation in hematopoietic aging and disease.
Our Core Research Values
Collaboration
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller.
We value the role that everyone plays to enable our successes, both within the lab and beyond, and deeply acknowledge that we only win together.
Creativity
Better therapies and novel treatments require new thinking and fresh ideas.
We commit to go beyond conventional ideas to produce fresh and innovative approaches to understand and treat leukemia and cancer.
Diversity & Inclusion
Together we are one. Cancer does not discriminate, and this disease impacts all our families and communities.
We believe that cherishing a diversity of cultures, experience, and ideas within the lab is the only way to finding a cure.
Leadership
We are committed to empower our lab as leaders in the fight to find a cure.
Through our expertise and study we seek to inspire the world with new ideas, by finding opportunities in every challenge, and through our enthusiasm and dedication.
