Osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone cancer in dogs and people. My lab investigates the mechanisms that permit osteosarcoma cells to spread to new sites (metastasis) and survive exposure to chemotherapy (chemoresistance). Additionally, we are working on identifying biomarkers that can help predict outcomes and/or guide therapeutic decisions for patients with osteosarcoma.
My research initiatives aim to develop novel/enhance existing treatment approaches in clinical pain management (diagnosis and treatment) and musculoskeletal biomechanics/pathomechanics associated with chronic diseases and aging.
Research in my laboratory aims to identify and characterize new molecular factors and cellular mechanisms implicated in neuronal development and plasticity, which in turn will help reveal important new details about the pathophysiology of different brain disorders and identify potential targets for improved pharmacological treatments.
Physical processes and human activities change the landscape and increasingly these factors work in tandem on the Earth’s surface; these interactions are what inspire and drive my research.
The ultimate goal of our research is to develop technology that helps to enable a shift of our carbon resource from fossil non-renewables (crude oil, natural gas and coal) to renewable biomass in form of agricultural and forestry byproducts such as corn stover, straws, wood chips and bark, etc.
