Education
BS, Biology, Georgetown University, 2015
PhD Student, Molecular Biosciences, Rutgers University, 2019 - Present
Research Interests
Regulation of gene expression, intestinal biology, stem cells, bioinformatics, signaling pathways in homeostasis and disease, cancer
Research Summary
The mammalian intestine plays indispensable roles in the protection of the body from pathogens and harmful agents and the absorption of nutrients that fuel the body. These functions and the constant exposure of the tissue to external factors drives the need for rapid cell turnover of the intestinal epithelium. The self-renewal of intestinal stem cells and their differentiation into appropriate and functional cell types is maintained by homeostatic signaling. Both epithelial cells and cells within the underlying stroma coordinate signals that support a normal, healthy intestinal architecture. Disruption of these signals either in the epithelium or in sub-epithelial cells can lead to cancer or inflammatory diseases. The goal of my research is to better understand the role of different cell types, signals, and signaling molecules like transcription factors in maintaining homeostatic signaling in the intestine. By defining these molecular mechanisms, we can better understand diseases of the intestine that arise when homeostasis is lost and develop treatments to reestablish appropriate signaling.