Cancer Biology Research Group

Our research program is driven by one fundamental question: what enables metastasis? We will explore the biological mechanisms that facilitates metastasis, which is responsible for over 90% of all cancer deaths worldwide. Our research seeks to understand how the tumor microenvironment orchestrates metastatic progression, which ultimately contributes to disease recurrence and therapy resistance. Specifically, we will explore the dynamic interplay between the tumor vasculature and matrisome and how their reprogramming generates microenvironmental cues that facilitate metastatic progression.

 

At the heart of our work is the commitment to local relevance and scientific equity. Part of our research will also involve establishing primary cancer cell lines derived from patients in our region, a significant step towards building meaningful research tools that reflect underrepresented populations in global cancer research. These patient-derived cancer cells provide a powerful platform to uncover context-specific mechanisms of metastasis, disease recurrence, and therapy resistance and will generate scientific insights that are locally impactful and globally significant.

 

Central to our research mission is the training and mentorship of postgraduate students and early-career researchers. We are committed to developing and empowering the next generation of researchers through rigorous research training, critical thinking, and a multidisciplinary collaborative environment to address clinically meaningful questions.