The lab has worked extensively on studying RAS and RAF signaling, with an emphasis on roles in cancer. Although RAS the first human oncogene to be discovered, and although it has been extensively studied, there continue to be surprising and unexpected results within the field of RAS biology.

We have found that many of these ‘surprising’ and ‘unexpected’ results can actually be shown to be logically consistent with known biology through a mathematical analysis of the biochemistry (i.e., Stites EC et al, Science, 2007; McFall T et al, Science Signaling, 2019; Mendiratta G et al, eLife, 2023). These computational models that can reconcile otherwise difficult to explain observations can then be used to simulate potential experiments and to efficiently investigate this area of cancer biology. Real-world experiments can then test the most interesting and most promising experiments, revealing important new aspects about cancer biology and cancer medicine (i.e., Stites EC et al, Cell Reports; 2013; McFall T et al, Cell Reports, 2021).

We have found our computational systems biology methods are very well-suited for studying diverging behaviors between oncogenic mutants, diverging responses to targeted therapies, and other aspects of cancer biology and treatment (i.e., Stites EC et al, Science, 2007; Stites EC et al, Cell Reports, 2013; McFall T et al, Science Signaling, 2019; McFall T et al, Cell Communication and Signaling, 2020; McFall T et al, Cell Reports, 2021; McFall T et al, npj Precision Oncology, 2022; Mendiratta G et al, eLife, 2023).

Our ongoing interests continue to be in the areas of cancer systems biology, cancer personalized medicine, and cancer systems pharmacology. Although RAS and RAF continue to be major interests, we are also eager to take the approaches we have developed to other areas of cancer biology within the laboratory and with motivated subject-area collaborators.