Our research seeks to understand how normal epithelial cells transform into cancer by uncovering the genetic, cellular, and immune mechanisms that govern tumor initiation and early evolution. Through innovative experimental models and high-resolution genomic technologies, we aim to identify new opportunities for cancer interception before invasive disease develops.

We investigate how genetic alterations transform normal epithelial cells into precancerous lesions and initiate tumor development. Using genetically engineered organoid models and lineage tracing, we uncover the molecular events that define the earliest steps of cancer.

We study how epithelial cells acquire new identities during tumor initiation and progression. By integrating single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, we define the cellular states and lineage trajectories that drive cancer evolution.

We explore how the immune microenvironment is reshaped during the earliest stages of cancer development. Our goal is to understand how interactions between epithelial, stromal, and immune cells create a permissive niche for tumor initiation and identify opportunities for early cancer interception.