My research group emphasizes translational cancer research to develop new therapies for several tumor types. Our work is focused on understanding cellular heterogeneity in cancers, and we have identified cells with stem cell characteristics that drive tumor growth, relapse, and metastatic spread. We initially identified these cancer stem cells in multiple myeloma, a cancer of the immune system, and used the same techniques in pancreatic cancer. We are currently interested in determining the factors that regulate these cells and identifying clinically relevant strategies to target and inhibit them. Over the past 20 years, we have translated our findings into over a dozen novel cancer clinical trials.
I have worked with over 30 undergraduates, PhD students, and medical students both here at UT Austin and in my previous 20 years at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
