Aruna Somasiri

2001 Research Trainee Award, PhD

Molecular Basis of Mammary Epithelial Cell Polarization

Aruna Somasiri has long been interested in how cells function at the molecular level. Somasiri believes understanding errors in cell regulation will provide the most valuable information in designing treatments for cancer. He's contributing to that knowledge by investigating the process that causes benign cancer tumours to metastasize - travel from their original tissue and form secondary tumours that are difficult to eliminate. Research has revealed that certain disruptions to cellular activity influence this process. Somasiri aims to understand the normal process of differentiation - cells forming other cells - in breast cells. He hopes the research will reveal insights about how misregulation of the process can initiate breast cancer metastasis. Completed PhD, August 2004

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