Research Laboratories

The Alizadeh Lab

Directed by Dr. Ash Alizadeh

Our group's research is focused on attaining a better understanding of the initiation, maintenance, and progression of tumors, and their response to current therapies toward improving future treatment strategies.


The Chu Lab

Directed by Dr. Gilbert Chu

Our laboratory focuses on understanding how cells respond to DNA damage. To understand how DNA damaged by ultraviolet radiation is targeted for repair, we identified UV-damaged DNA binding activity (UV-DDB).


The Curtis Lab

Directed by Dr. Christina Curtis

The Curtis laboratory is focused on the development and application of innovative experimental, computational, and analytical approaches to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and early detection of cancer.


The Felsher Lab

Directed by Dr. Dean Felsher

Our laboratory investigates how oncogenes initiate and sustain tumorigenesis. We have developed model systems whereby we can conditionally activate oncogenes in normal human and mouse cells in tissue culture or in specific tissues of transgenic mice.


The Ford Lab

Directed by Dr. James Ford

The major investigative focus of this laboratory is to explore the mammalian genetic determinants of the inducible response and cellular sensitivity to DNA damaging cytotoxic agents, focusing particularly on the effects of the p53 and BRCA1 gene products on DNA repair and apoptosis.


The Ji Lab

Directed by Dr. Hanlee Ji

To improve the lives of individuals with cancer, we have embarked on a research initiative to use cutting edge genetics and technology to interrogate the fundamental genetic" digital" code responsible for cancer development and overall clinical behavior.


The R. Levy Lab

Directed by Dr. Ronald Levy

Our laboratory works at the boundry between immunology and cancer biology. We study normal lymphocyte biology and the biology of malignant lymphomas.


The S. Levy Lab

Directed by Dr. Shoshana Levy

Our research is aimed at understanding the mechanism of action of tetraspanins. This is a multi-gene family, which has shown remarkable conservation over evolution and whose members are expressed in mammals, insects and nematodes. 


The Rohatgi Lab

Directed by Dr. Rajat Rohatgi

Cell-cell communication must be achieved with high fidelity to avoid catastrophes such as cancer.  Our goal is to understand the detailed biochemical principles of cell-cell interactions, with an emphasis on how these biochemical reactions are organized in the spatial and temporal dimension.  We strive to use our work to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics for human patients.


The Sikic Lab

Directed by Dr. Branimir I. Sikic

Our goals are to understand mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer cells and to develop more effective therapies. Current research ranges from biochemical and molecular studies in cellular models to Phase I, II and III clinical trials, and translational studies of molecular determinants of therapeutic response and toxicity.