Signals originating from the  micro-environment dramatically    influence the fate of adult stem cells and cancer cells.  However, it has been challenging to characterize and harness these myriad forces in order to control the differentiation of normal stem cells in the regenerative medicine setting. Similarly, aberrant non-cell autonomous signals from the tumor stroma may confer survival to residual tumor cells remaining after optimal surgical or medical therapy for advanced cancer.  We utilize a combination of cell culture-based and murine models of adult stem cell and tumor cell plasticity to address these important problems. Read more…