Damon Runyon Researchers

Dr. Walter focuses on splicing factor genes, which carry out the RNA splicing process and are widely mutated in lung cancer. The splicing factor U2AF1 is mutated in 2% of lung cancer patients, but 80% of these mutations are identical, making it one of the most common missense mutations in lung cancer. Scientists do not have a good understanding of why this mutation occurs, or how it promotes cancer development. Dr. Walter will use a combination of cell and mouse model systems along with patient data to identify the unique molecular and genetic features of U2AF1-mutant cancer cells with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets for lung cancer patients.