The Armstrong laboratory is focused on defining the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of cancer development with a focus on pediatric leukemia. By defining the programs that control the extensive self-renewal properties associated with leukemia, we can develop rational approaches for potential new therapies. Experiments incorporate the use of sophisticated mouse models of human leukemia and the characterization of human leukemia cells. Current active research areas include:

• Identification of developmental pathways that are responsible for cancer stem cell self-renewal and characterization of their specific roles in this process

• Studying the role of histone modifications and chromosome structure as a critical initial step in cancer development and how these mechanisms can be targeted therapeutically

• Development of mouse models for testing novel therapeutic approaches

• Exploring protein:protein interaction network of oncogenic fusion proteins

• Detailed genomic and epigenomic characterization of human and mouse leukemias through the use of next-generation sequencing approaches (RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, CUT&RUN, CUT&Tag, ATAC-seq)

• Genome scale screening for dependencies in fusion driven leukemias, as well as, for sensitizers and mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies