Distinguished Scientist: Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario
Professor: Department of Biochemistry
Western University, London, Ontario
Cross Appointment: Department of Oncology
University Website
http://publish.uwo.ca/~fdick/Lab_Web_Page/index.html
Mailing Address
Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre
Room A4-136, Cancer Research Laboratory Program
790 Commissioners Rd. E.
London, Ontario
Canada N6A 4L6
Tel: 519-685-8500 Extension 53027
Fax: 519-685-8616
Email: fdick@uwo.ca
Staff and Trainees
Graduate Students
Aren Marshall
Piru Perampalam
Seung Kim
Mike Roes
Staff
Daniel Passos
James MacDonald
Research Area
Cell Cycle and Genome Stability
Key Words
Cancer Genetics, Mouse Models of Cancer
Laboratory
Laboratory research is focused on the fundamental mechanisms that regulate the mammalian cell cycle and how they are disrupted in cancer. This is carried out by using cell culture, in vitro biochemical, and mouse gene-targeting technologies.
Summary of Current Work
Regulation of the mammalian cell division cycle is critical to development and disease. Loss of proliferative control during development is catastrophic, as it can lead to genome instability, apoptosis, and tissue degeneration. Loss of cell cycle control is also important in disease pathology, as deregulated proliferation is a defining feature of cancer. A key regulator of progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle is the pathway controlled by the Retinoblastoma protein (pRB). It functions beyond G1-S control and has implications for cancer pathogenesis, treatment choice, and outcome. We are investigating this multifaceted pathway.
