The Housman Laboratory uses genetic approaches to identify the mechanistic bases of human disease pathology to develop effective strategies for intervention. We focus on trinucleotide repeat disorders, particularly Huntington's and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In the field of cancer, we analyze genetic alterations in germline DNA or in specific tumors to identify pathways of particular significance to tumorigenesis.
Our laboratory has been very active in the study of the WT1 tumor suppressor gene, demonstrating its key role in the development of Wilms tumors, a childhood cancer of the kidney. We are also exploring the impact of reduced function of WT1 in both normal and leukemic cells to understand more about its usefulness as a marker and target in therapy for leukemia. In glioblastoma, we are exploring the mechanisms by which the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Ros causes cell transformation when localized to the Golgi apparatus. Finally, in melanoma, we are identifying genes which contribute to the development of melanoma through studies of loss of heterozygosity in tumors and the mapping of modifier genes which accelerate or retard tumorigenesis in mouse models.