Our research is focused on understanding early stages of cancer development using clonal hematopoiesis (CH) as a model for pre-cancerous state. CH is characterized by the presence of cancer-associated genetic variants in individuals with no symptoms of blood cancer.
We utilize large-scale population genomic datasets to understand how hematopoietic clones initiate, evolve, and contribute to disease pathogenesis. Our ongoing projects include 1) mapping the landscape of genetic alterations that initiate clonal expansion, 2) identifying intrinsic and extrinsic regulators of clonal evolution, and 3) understanding how CH mediates development of blood cancer and other non-malignant diseases. These projects facilitate better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying CH as well as identification of the biomarkers for stratifying CH-associated risk and early detection of cancer.