Grant: Foundation Grant

All cells have the ability to receive outside messages and to communicate with neighboring cells. Genes encode proteins that undergo a series of molecular events, that allows a cell to translate the information and modify their behaviour to ensure that the cell functions properly in its environment. Many complex diseases such as cancer are the result of a disruptions in this information transfer referred to as cell signaling and cell-cell communication. In my laboratory, we study three signalling pathways: Wnt, TGFbeta (Transforming Growth Factor-beta) and Hippo pathways. Although molecularly distinct, these core pathways interact extensively and this crosstalk plays a key role in ensuring normal cell function under varying conditions. Failure in an individual pathway or in the way the pathways crosstalk, can lead to serious diseases such as cancer. My overall objective is to uncover the fundamental biology behind cell signalling and communication and to apply advanced, multidimensional screening approaches to identify novel protein targets and candidate drugs. The goal is to translate our findings so that they can be further developed as potential therapeutics to restore normal communication in diseased cells.