Research in the Masri lab is aimed at understanding the relationship between disruption of circadian rhythms and tumorigenesis. We are interested in two research questions. The first question relates to how genetic disruption of the circadian clock in mouse models alters tumorigenesis both at the level of initiation and disease progression. The second question is aimed at elucidating the systemic crosstalk between tumors and peripheral tissues and how cancer cells are able to rewire circadian metabolism at a distance.

The Masri lab utilizes a truly interdisciplinary approach to cancer biology! We heavily utilize genetic mouse models of lung and colorectal cancer to address important biological questions in vivo. Also, we rely on in vitro organoid cultures to define molecular mechanisms of circadian disruption linked with stem cell biology. Using both in vivo and in vitro models, the Masri lab uses stable isotope metabolic tracing coupled with metabolomics analysis to define how circadian disruption alters cellular metabolism. These approaches are coupled with basic molecular and cellular biology tools to define the role of the biological pacemaker in cancer biology.