The goal of my research is to improve the life of cancer patients by identifying tools to make better treatment decisions. This can possibly improve several important aspects of the life of a cancer patient, including treatment response, the quality of life, and the overall survival following treatment.
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 current research explores the role of rural governance, place-based development, philanthropy, rural policy, community economic development, and rural immigration and mobility.