Research programme
Functional genomics and therapeutic synergy
We combine systematic perturbation with mechanistic validation to identify genetic dependencies and drug combinations that produce deeper cancer responses.
Central question
Which context-specific dependencies can be converted into synergistic therapies for retinoblastoma, small-cell lung cancer and other aggressive tumours?
The laboratory uses pooled functional-genomic screens and high-throughput robotics to identify genes and compounds that become essential in defined tumour states. Candidate interactions are then tested mechanistically and validated in three-dimensional cultures, xenografts and other in vivo systems.
This programme has uncovered combination strategies involving neddylation, ribosomal stress, p53-linked death networks and the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The aim is not simply to find active compounds, but to understand why combinations work, identify biomarkers of response and overcome resistance while preserving normal tissue function.