Our group is focused upon understanding the composition and regulation of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesive junctions at mucosal epithelial surfaces. These complexes are crucial determinants of epithelial structure and polarization, and dysregulated adhesion has been observed in a range of pathologies from inflammation to cancer.

Current projects (funded by Cancer Research Ireland, Health Research Board and Science Foundation Ireland) include investigating the role of altered adhesion in breast cancer progression, and characterizing the importance of a novel lipid raft-associated junctional protein in cellular adhesion during mucosal inflammation.