Research

In the lab led by Aaron M. Udager, the primary focus is on pathology, translational research, and molecular profiling of various cancers, with a specific emphasis on genitourinary, head and neck, and surgical pathology. The lab uses integrative high-throughput approaches, such as next-generation sequencing, to investigate the molecular profile of different cancers.

One of the lab's significant achievements is the development and implementation of kidney, prostate, and head and neck cancer diagnostic tests offered through the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology (MCTP) clinical lab. These tests likely utilize protein, DNA, and RNA-based assays to aid in the diagnosis and classification of these cancers.

The lab conducts research on functional validation of promising candidates identified through their studies and other large-scale cancer sequencing projects. This research likely involves further experimentation and validation of potential targets or biomarkers to understand their roles in cancer biology.

In terms of equipment, the laboratory is equipped with Ion Proton and Ion S5 Sequencers for next-generation sequencing, allowing them to perform high-throughput sequencing of genetic material. Additionally, they use the ABI QuantStudio 12K flex system for high-throughput gene expression analysis.

Regarding animal work, the lab recognizes the importance of using animal-based pre-clinical models, particularly mice, for studying cancer initiation and progression. They highlight the advantages of using mice in research due to their short breeding times, large litter sizes, well-characterized genome, and anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. While human patient-derived tumor samples and patient-derived organoid cultures offer valuable insights, animal models remain essential for fully understanding certain aspects of cancer biology, such as metastatic progression.

Overall, the lab's work revolves around advancing cancer research through molecular profiling, functional validation, and utilization of animal-based pre-clinical models to gain insights into cancer biology and improve clinical practice.