Cancer Signaling Networks (CSN) Research Program harnesses research talent across YCC to understand fundamentals of key pathways that drive carcinogenesis and cancer progression, with the goal of enabling development and improvement of effective targeted cancer therapeutics. The Program takes full advantage of cutting-edge technologies to identify critical drivers of initiation and progression of human cancers, as well as their response to therapy – bringing together leading investigators across the spectrum of cancer research to advance fundamental understanding of cancer signaling and overcome treatment challenges. Members investigate all aspects of signal transduction research related to cancer, including receptor signaling mechanisms, signaling pathways, cytoskeleton, cell polarity, intracellular protein trafficking, and integrated signaling networks.

The CSN Program brings together world-class investigators who study fundamental aspects of signal transduction, investigators who develop novel technologies that can be applied to both basic and translational research, and clinicians who provide a patient-driven perspective and focus for translating that basic science. Research themes include receptor biology, signaling biology (post-receptor signaling networks), signaling regulated processes (cellular and subcellular processes including cell cycle progression, cytoskeleton, migration, metabolism), and integrative cancer biology (tissue level processes).

The goals of the Cancer Signaling Networks are to:
    1. To understand cancer signaling networks and the processes they regulate, including invasion and metabolism.
    2. Understand regulation of tumor cell populations and phenotypes by intercellular communication and other aspects of the tumor and immune microenvironment.
    3. Identify new targets for therapeutic development and to improve impact of existing signaling targeted agents.
    4. Prevent and overcome treatment resistance.