Our Primary Interests

Our primary scientific interests lie in developing novel therapeutic combinations and prevention strategies for gastrointestinal malignancies. To understand the complex effects of non-chemotherapy-based treatments or preventive agents on cancer biology, our group takes advantage of the advanced microscopy, genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic platforms available at Brown University. Our main areas of focus include:

Pancreatic Cancer: Predicted to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030, pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies with few treatments beyond chemotherapy. We are currently testing several unique combinations of agents both in the lab at Brown University and in active clinical trials at the Lifespan Cancer Institute.

Bile Duct Cancers: Although a rare disease in the United States, the incidence of bile duct cancer in Rhode Island is strikingly high, and is increasing. We are working to develop new methods of testing novel treatments which are currently being translated into clinical trials.

Gastroesophageal Cancers: Together with collaborators at other institutions, we are studying new combinations of chemotherapy and immunotherapy for the treatment of gastroesophageal cancers.

Colorectal Cancer: Currently, rates of colorectal cancer in the United States are rising in younger individuals. We have partnered with the National Cancer Institute to address this by leading a multicenter clinical trial investigating a novel agent developed at Brown University for the prevention of colorectal cancer.