Our current research efforts fall into two categories: translational research and clinical outcomes research. My work in clinical outcomes has focused on quality of care in management of ovarian cancer with a specific interest in surgical management of this disease. We have demonstrated and identified key factors important in overall surgical outcomes and the primary predictors of good and bad outcomes. Through this work we have consistently observed a strong link between radical surgical excision and improved survival and our work continues to increase rates of surgical resection nationally. We have also identified several patient factors which predispose to adverse complications during surgery, as well as institutionally related factors. This data is being used to devise systems that can be used to improve the quality of care in ovarian cancer.

The translation research component that our lab is working in focuses on targeting a unique receptor on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. We have shown that the MIS type II receptor is specifically expressed in over 65% of ovarian cancers and minimally in other non-cancer tissues. This therefore serves as a potential target of directed therapeutics in the management of ovarian cancer. We are working with others to better understand its regulation and to test the ability to target the receptor for therapy and improved imaging in ovarian cancer.