1) Reveal the mechanisms underlying oncogenic amplifications and other forms of complex structural variation in pancreatic cancer;
2) Delineate the changes in the architecture of the genome in the different stages of cancer development and evolution;
3) Develop computational tools, sequencing assays and genomic biomarkers for cancer detection, characterisation, diagnosis and targeted therapy.
Develop Predictive Models
By understanding the spatial distribution of pathological changes, the lab aims to develop models that can predict disease progression, complications, and patient outcomes. This includes understanding how localized changes within the pancreas can affect its function and lead to conditions like pancreatic insufficiency or diabetes.
Explore Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis
The lab may focus on studying how the tumor interacts with its surrounding microenvironment, including immune cells, blood vessels, neurons, and stromal components. This knowledge is crucial for identifying factors that promote tumor growth and metastasis, providing insights into how to disrupt these processes therapeutically.
Improve Therapeutic Strategies
Understanding the spatial pathology of pancreatic diseases allows for the identification of potential therapeutic targets, such as specific cell types, pathways, or tumor microenvironment features. The lab's goal is to inform people of treatment approaches that are more personalized and effective, based on the precise location and structure of disease processes.
Enhance Diagnostic Tools
The lab strives to develop and refine diagnostic techniques that can detect early-stage diseases by analyzing the spatial organization of tissues. This could involve the use of advanced imaging technologies, such as 3D reconstructions, to provide a more accurate diagnosis and identify key biomarkers associated with pancreatic disorders.
Identify Disease Mechanisms
By mapping the spatial patterns of diseases such as pancreatic cancer, and chronic pancreatitis the lab aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms of disease development and progression. This includes studying how tumor cells, inflammatory cells, or fibrosis are spatially organized and interact with other cells and tissues.
Advanced Preclinical Models for Therapeutic Discovery and Validation
To bridge discovery and clinical benefit, the lab develops and uses patient-derived organoids (PDOs). These 3D "mini-tumors" grown from a patient's own tumor tissue, overcome the limitations of traditional 2D cell lines. PDOs offer high fidelity, recapitulating the genetics, histology, and heterogeneity of the original tumor, and can be established with high success rates from small biopsy samples.
