
My laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of stem cell function in the normal intestine and in colorectal cancer using innovative three-dimensional organoid and in vivo platforms. We demonstrated that high fat diet-induced obesity activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARd) signaling in intestinal stem cells and progenitor cells, which increases stem cell regeneration and tumor initiation in the colon. We also pioneered novel orthotopic transplantation and in situ CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing models of colorectal cancer that recapitulate the adenoma-carcinoma-metastasis sequence. Research in the laboratory is focused on three main areas: 1) Immune regulation of the intestinal epithelium and colorectal cancer; 2) The effects of diet-induced obesity on regeneration in the intestine; and 3) analysis of colorectal cancer heterogeneity with single-cell mRNA sequencing and genetically engineered mouse models. The overall goal of this research is to develop new treatment approaches for intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. I am also a gastroenterologist at Duke University Hospital and the Durham VA Hospital. My clinical interests include colorectal cancer screening and gastrointestinal cancer genetics.
Education and Training
- Postdoctoral Fellow (mentor: Omer H. Yilmaz, M.D., PhD), Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, 2014 - 2018
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 2011 - 2014
- Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 2008 - 2012
- Residency in Internal Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 2006 - 2008
- Michael Saperstein Medical Scholar, New York University School of Medicine, 2005 - 2006
- Internship in Internal Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 2004 - 2005
- M.D., Boston University School of Medicine, 2004
Grants
- Training Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology
- Wnt signaling in obesity-associated colorectal cancer
- Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program
- Dissecting the evolutionary landscape of treatment resistance in rectal cancer using patient-derived models.
- Genetic and Genomics Training Grant
- Ultra-bright fluorescent nanoparticles for colorectal adenoma detection
- Treatment of radiation proctitis in prostate cancer patients with a novel inducer of autophagy
- Inhibition of CaMKK2 sensitizes rectal cancers to radiation therapy
- Low cost OCT probe for GI applications
- Adipose tissue-colorectal tumor cross-talk: new targets for breaking the obesity-cancer link
- Role of immune regulation in colorectal cancer chemotherapeutic response
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy System for Small Animals
- Targeting plasma membrane spatial dynamics to suppress aberrant Wnt signaling
- Evaluation of estrogen receptor as a therapeutic target in melanoma, lung and colorectal cancer models