My research lies at the intersection of developmental neurobiology and cancer biology. During brain development, signaling pathways initiated by extracellular growth factors regulate and coordinate proliferation, differentiation, migration and survival. Understanding growth factor signaling pathways identifies critical steps in development and differentiation of the brain, the most complex organ. Furthermore such studies enable new therapies for brain disorders,  as these pathways are eminently druggable and exhibit extensive signal amplification. Our research focuses both on understanding normal brain development and developing therapies for brain tumors and of diverse neurologic disorders.
In addition to the research in the lab, I am committed to training future scientists and to developing interdisciplinary areas of research.  I am the Director of the PhD program in Neuroscience at Harvard and an associate of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies.
When I am not working, I enjoy time with my family (Mike, Rachel and Daniel), running and poetry.