Laura Winalski
Georgia Institute of Technology
Rebecca Ihrie lab
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a disease affecting nearly 1 in every 6,000 births characterized by the by the growth of benign tumors throughout several organ systems, particularly the brain and skin. TSC tumors arise as a result of mutations in one allele of either the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, and when present in the brain, can cause developmental defects, learning disabilities, and seizures. My project aims to elucidate the developmental time window of TSC2 mutant tumors using mouse models and single cell analysis of resected patient tissues. By determining the time window of tumor development, we will be better able to study the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and know when to therapeutically intervene in the clinic.