My laboratory research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of deregulation of mitogenic signaling pathways that are aberrantly activated in cancers. My current research centers on determining how the RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway regulates itself and other signaling networks as well as the functional significance of negative feedback and cross talk in tumorigenesis and resistance to RAF/MEK/ERK directed therapies. Our major research efforts include identification and characterization of feedback and cross-talk pathways in tumors with activated ERK signaling, determination of the biological significance of the negative feedback pathway in major tumor phenotypes, and preclinical development of pharmacologic strategies to overcome feedback-mediated resistance to pathway inhibitors. I am also involved in several early-phase global clinical trials of RAF inhibitors in pediatric patients.