Our group investigates how developing tumors co-evolve with their surrounding microenvironment and how this dynamic interplay shapes disease progression. Using colorectal cancer as our primary model, we dissect the bidirectional crosstalk between stroma and tumor epithelial cells during tumor initiation, growth, and metastatic dissemination. By studying both cell-intrinsic programs and non–cell autonomous signals, we aim to clarify how stromal compartments instruct epithelial behavior and, in turn, how malignant cells reprogram the stroma to create pro-tumorigenic niches.

Our approach integrates single-cell RNA sequencing, organoid systems, mouse models, and high-resolution imaging to map cellular states and spatial organization. Where possible, we couple discovery with perturbation—using targeted genetic and pharmacological tools in vitro and in vivo—to define causality and therapeutic potential.

Our long-term goal is to establish a mechanistic framework for stromal contributions to cancer and therapy response, ultimately informing strategies that limit drug resistance and metastasis, bridging fundamental biology with translational impact.