My laboratory concentrates on understanding how the organization of the actin cytoskeleton regulates cellular behavior and how aberrations in this organization lead to grave consequences, such as cancer cell invasion and ultimately tumor metastasis. We are investigating estrogen receptor (ER) regulation of invasion of ER positive breast cancer by focusing on hormonal regulation of the actin cytoskeletal architecture. These studies foreground the unexpected alterations in the actin architecture caused by suppressing ER transcriptional activity and how these alterations promote cellular changes, such as hyperactive protrusions, which promote invasion. My expertise is in two areas: analytical cell biology, focused on quantitative cellular microscopy, and cancer biology, focused on invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. My background greatly influences the approach I am currently taking to investigate the invasive behavior of breast tumors and distinguishes my laboratory by being adherent to a highly quantitative methodology that will allow us to identify even subtle changes in cellular behavior. Such analytical approaches are crucial when studying invasion of cancer cells since even subtle changes might have significant effects on disease progression – which is something that we found to be true in many cancer models in vivo and in vitro. In addition, my current position at the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) allows me to develop a translational research program through the collaborative interactions with resident basic and clinical researchers.