My lab is using biochemical and proteomic techniques to identify all protein components of the nucleolus in order to study the nucleolar dynamics of ARF tumor suppression. Related to this goal, we have identified several nucleolar oncoproteins involved in various aspects of ribosome biogenesis. Many of these proteins are overexpressed or amplified in human breast cancers, suggesting that defects in ribsome biogenesis might themselves prove oncogenic. Our goal is to understand the basic mechanisms behind ARF’s tumor suppressive capabilities and to relate these processes to our growing knowledge of human cancer progression. Members of the lab are translating their findings into clinical settings and potential application through numerous collaborations with Internal Medicine faculty.

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I have trained 16 PhD graduate students, 2 MSTP students, 12 postdoctoral researchers, and 39 undergraduate research students, 12 of which were underrepresented minorities in my 20 years at Washington University. I am also the head of the new American Cancer Society Diversity Internship in Cancer Research Program that provides summer research opportunities to underrepresented Washington University undergrads.