My long-term research goal is to further out understanding of metastatic cancer driver genes, identifying key mechanisms by which they promote cancers, and thereby elucidate potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers. My graduate research experience in molecular biology, virology, and cancer biology has prepared me to attain this goal. My pre-doctoral research training in Dr. Grant Trobridge laboratory focused on the use of retroviral vector insertional mutagenesis screens to identify metastasis driver genes in prostate and breast cancer. My novel findings helped clarify details of effective screening approaches. I identified SHARPIN as a breast cancer metastasis-driving gene and prognostic indicator, and used a high-throughput modified genomic sequencing PCR approach to also identify TAOK3 and ABCC1 as prostate cancer progression genes that might be targeted with small molecule drugs. As a post-doctoral trainee in Dr. Valeri Vasioukhin laboratory at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) in Seattle I focused on studying the mechanisms and significance of cell polarity in normal mammalian development and cancer. My research project was build upon the skills that I developed in graduate school and on Dr. Vasioukin widely recognized expertise in studying genes that affects cell polarity. I examined the major cancer signaling pathways that impact asymmetric cell division of stem and progenitor cells and that results in abnormal accumulation of continuously dividing cells using conditional double-mutant Llgl1/2 mice. My success involved extensive additional training and expert mentorship that I received in Dr. Vasioukhin lab and from his collaborators in; cancer, molecular biology, virology and manuscript writing. I mastered a novel in utero lentiviral microinjection technology that enables the detailed analysis of signal transduction pathways, in which I could study various aspects of neoplasia at the very earliest points of malignant transformation. The FHCRC, a world-renowned research and training institution, afforded me with unique opportunities to study at the forefront of modern cancer biology, and to generate important new discoveries that provide a deeper understanding of the basic laws of biology, and potentially lead to better cancer prognosis, prevention and treatment options. Currently, I am utilizing the knowledge, skills and experience developed during my doctoral and postdoctoral training to become an efficient independent investigator doing research that can ultimately benefit cancer patients using bio-computational skills.