TElomeres and human disease
Impaired function of telomeres - the caps that protect chromosome ends - occurs with normal aging and in settings of disease. Telomere dysfunction impairs tissue regeneration and blocks cancer development. We seek to understand how this process influences degenerative disease and cancer.
Tissue homeostasis and regeneration
Maintenance of many tissues fails with advanced aging and disease. We study the underlying mechanisms governing tissue homeostasis and repair.
Origins of cancer
The cellular origins of cancer remain largely mysterious. We study the early stages of human carcinogenesis and how cancers acquire cellular immortality.
Telomerase function in cancers and stem cells
The telomerase enzyme lengthens telomeres, a critical step in cellular immortality. We seek to understand how telomerase functions inside living human cells.