IRCM Researchers

A cell’s transition from one functional state to another is fundamental to development and disease. Cells have evolved molecular networks to sense and process the external environmental or internal state information to make specific decisions. We are particularly interested in understanding how cells use the signalling and transcriptional networks for cell fate decisions. Twin motivations drive our research: to understand the nature and function of networks and apply this knowledge to either control or engineer (reprogram) cells, such as creating better stem cells or driving the cells away from a disease state.

We use pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and pancreatic cancer as model systems for our research. To better elucidate the logic and principles of decision-making, we use combinations of methods based in biochemistry, cell biology, systems biology, single-cell transcriptomics, computational biology and mathematical modelling. As a result, the lab members come from diverse fields. We strive to provide an interdisciplinary collaborative environment to pursue science.