Humam Kadara, Ph.D.

Scientists need a better understanding of how lung cancer develops in order to detect the disease early. We have previously found that seemingly normal airway cells close to lung tumors carry molecular changes that are characteristic of the tumor itself. In a mouse model, we found these changes preceded the onset of lung tumors. Our project aims to uncover, using sequencing technology, how changes in the mouse normal airway evolve following tobacco-carcinogen exposure and up to emergence of nearby lung tumors. We will uncover novel markers associated with lung cancer onset that can serve as tools for early detection of the disease.