Findings from human patients require accurate animal models to test mechanistic insights and novel therapeutic strategies. We collaborate with members of the Duke Center for Applied Therapeutics to develop innovative mouse models of pancreatic neoplasia, including IPMN and adenocarcinoma, that faithfully recapitulate these disease process as observed in human patients.

In collaboration with the Snyder Laboratory, we are currently developing the first genetically accurate mouse model of IPMN. Applying the CRAINBOW technology developed by Dr. Snyder’s group, our goal is to understand how the possible permutations of genetic events observed in human patients (i.e. non-mutually exclusive mutations in GNAS, KRAS, and RNF43) drive IPMN formation and dysplastic progression. We then plan to use this model to test mechanistic insights and intervention strategies derived from our human studies.

In collaboration with the Hartman Laboratory, we are adapting a panel of lineage-labeled mouse models and associated tools to understand the earliest events underlying pancreatic cancer metastasis and how the pre-metastatic microenvironment shapes disease progression.