Researching Cell Signaling in Time, Space and Disease

Cell signaling networks are the foundation of cell fate and behaviour and their aberrant activity is a key mechanism underlying the pathological behavior of cells during tumor development. However, signaling networks are highly complex, involving a vast ensemble of dynamic interactions that flux in space and time. Thus, to understand how aberrant cell decisions arise requires a global view of cell signaling networks. We and others have demonstrated that to obtain predictive insight into a biological system a combination of experimental and computational exploration is needed. Thus a major aim of our lab is to continue to develop computational tools (such as ReKINect, KinomeXplorer, NetworKIN and NetPhorest) and to deploy these on mass-spectrometry, genetic and phenotypic data to understand at a systems-level the principles of how spatio and temporal assembly of mammalian interaction networks transmits and process information (molecular logic) in order to alter cell behaviour (cellular logic).

A major activity is the search for signaling networks that drive disease progression. We hypothesise these networks can be powerful therapeutic targets. We are motivated by the opportunity to perform systems based targeting of complex human diseases while simultaneously gaining insight into the fundamental principles behind cellular information processing and decision making.

We work with other international integrative network, cancer and tumor biology laboratories in large-scale, world-class multi-diciplinary and highly collaborative research efforts aimed at studying cancer metastasis. Our aim is to advance network medicine by identifying and targeting signaling networks associated with complex diseases.