Welcome to the Shaffer lab!
The Shaffer Lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular heterogeneity and tumor evolution using innovative single-cell and spatial technologies and computational approaches. We develop and apply lineage tracing methods to track individual cancer cells through time, enabling us to identify the rare cell populations that drive therapy resistance, metastasis, and disease progression. By combining these approaches in human tissues and model systems, we aim to uncover fundamental principles of cellular plasticity and identify new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
Our interdisciplinary team brings together expertise in bioengineering, pathology, computational biology, and cancer biology to tackle complex questions that require both wet-lab experimentation and dry-lab analysis.
News
July 10th, 2025: Congratulations to Carson Poltorack on being selected for the Blavatnik Family Fellowship.
December 6th, 2024: Congratulations to Dylan Schaff on successful thesis defense
