I have 18+ years of experience in cancer, epigenetics, and virology research. My graduate and postdoctoral research involves epigenetic regulation of latent and chronic viral diseases, and I am co-inventor of a novel therapeutic that can reduce HSV-1 reactivation. In my current research on ovarian cancer, I am initiating a new project examining interactions between ovarian cancer and a highly inflammatory sub-population of adipocytes. It is our hypothesis that these fat cells are a major contributor to ovarian cancer progression and metastasis. I have also studied epigenetic mechanisms of therapy resistance mechanisms in recurrent ovarian cancers. It is my goal to translate my research into novel early detection and treatment options.