Our lab is interested in the underlying mechanisms of adult tissue homeostasis and the early steps of tumorigenesis, the stage where adult stem cells acquire the first tumor-associated mutation(s) allowing them to outcompete their neighbors for growth. Using a combination of genetics tools, in vivo and in vitro models, and imaging techniques, we aim to understand how the homeostatic tissue regeneration is regulated and how tumorigenic mutations affect the balance of adult stem cells.

Our lab focuses on three aspects of adult stem cells with focus on the digestive tract organs as models:
1. Adult stem cells in the stomach
2. Adult stem cell homeostasis in the intestine
3. Adult stem cells at the beginning of malignant transformation