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Overview

My laboratory utilizes high-throughput single cell sequencing and quantitative imaging technologies, as well as mouse models of metastasis, to mechanistically dissect tumour cell heterogeneity through the lens of tissue regeneration and repair. We are systematically dissecting lineage-specific immune vulnerabilities across epithelial cell states observed in development and cancer progression by combining single cell methods with targeted perturbations. By integrating systems biology methods within a hypothesis driven framework, our goal is to better understand how developmental plasticity amongst individual cancer cells shapes immune susceptibility and lethal transitions like metastasis or the emergence of drug resistance.

Highlights

  1. 1
    Nature medicine · 2020
    PMID: 32042191PMCID: PMC7021003DOIFirst author377 citations
  2. 2
    Nature communications · 2021
    PMID: 34518527PMCID: PMC8438051DOISenior author47 citations

Publications

35 publications

Active

11 grants
  • PI
    A systems-level approach to therapeutically target STING in cancer
    National Cancer Institute · 2025–2030
    R01CA282762-02
  • KP
    Using generative modeling to understand heterogeneous patterns of cellular communication from scRNA-seq data
    National Science Foundation · 2025–2028
    NSF 231527-01
  • PI
    Dissecting the impact of tumor-intrinsic chromosomal instability on the cancer ecosystem
    National Cancer Institute · 2023–2028
    R01CA280572-04
  • Sub-PI
    Multi-cellular interactions defining the human brain metastatic niche
    National Cancer Institute · 2023–2028 · via Columbia University
    R01CA280414-04
  • Co-I
    "Novel Mouse Models for Quantitative Understanding of Baseline and Therapy-Driven Evolution of Prostate Cancer Metastasis"
    National Cancer Institute · 2023–2028
    R01CA272466-01A1
  • PI
    Dissecting the Role of Micronuclei in Tumor Evolution
    Pershing Square Foundation · 2025–2027
    PSF 253389-01
  • PI
    SatSeq: a scalable platform to effectively target multi-modal proteins in cancer
    Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance · 2024–2027
    PQSC 243031-01
  • PI
    Uncovering transcriptional vulnerabilities in latent metastasis
    Burroughs Wellcome Fund · 2019–2027
    BWF 1015818.01
  • PI
    Probing cytosolic nucleic acid sensing pathways in cancer
    National Cancer Institute · 2021–2026
    R01CA256188-05
  • Co-I
    Targeting immune evasion in gastroesophageal cancer
    Stand Up To Cancer · 2023–2026 · via Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    SU2C 6352
  • Sub-PI
    Dissecting the Role of Micronuclei in Tumor Evolution
    Pershing Square Foundation · 2025–2026 · via Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    MSK 260903-01
Completed grants (6)
  • PI
    Role of the smooth muscle layer in bladder cancer biology and progression: a systems and experimental approach
    National Cancer Institute · 2022–2025
    R21CA266660-01A1
  • PI
    Addgene 700481
    Addgene, Inc. · 2022–2023
    Addgene 700481
  • PI
    Addgene 699228
    Addgene, Inc. · 2022–2023
    Addgene 699228
  • PI
    Dissecting tumor-immune cell interactions in uveal melanoma
    Melanoma Research Alliance · 2019–2022
    MRA #622017
  • Sub-PI
    Designing an Engineered Environment for Tumor Dormancy
    National Cancer Institute · 2020–2022 · via The Regents of the University of Michigan
    U01CA210152-05
  • PI
    Targeting Metastasis-initiating Cells in Lung Adenocarcinoma
    Lung Cancer Research Foundation · 2019–2020
    LCRF 200973-01

News mentions

  • Dr. Ashley Laughney Wins Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research
    June 17, 2024

    Dr. Ashley Laughney, an assistant professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, has won a 2024 Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research.

  • How One Type of Lung Cancer Can Transform into Another
    February 8, 2024

    Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have uncovered steps that lead to lung tumors called adenocarcinoma turning into a much more aggressive small cell lung cancer that spreads rapidly and has few options for treatment. This problematic process is sometimes seen when patients stop responding to initially effective treatments. The findings advance the understanding of how mutated genes can trigger cancer evolution and suggest targets for more effective treatments.

  • New Research Shows How Cancer Rewires a Key Immune Pathway To Spread
    August 23, 2023

    A study led by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine discovered a new relationship between cancer cells and the immune system, and shows how cancer can selfishly hijack a normally helpful immune pathway.

4 PhD students · 4 Postdocs

PhD · 4

External relationships

Leadership Roles

Manarola Therapeutics Inc.

Ownership

Manarola Therapeutics Inc.

Professional Services

Manarola Therapeutics Inc.