Damon Runyon Researchers

Genetic disturbances can disrupt normal cellular programs, promote unrestricted proliferation (i.e., tumor growth), and expose vulnerabilities that can be targeted therapeutically. However, how cells dynamically respond to such changes over time remains incompletely understood. Dr. Torre will use cutting-edge genetic tools, such as CRISPR and single-cell RNA sequencing, to study the precise sequence of molecular events triggered upon silencing of key regulators of cell identity and proliferation in human cells. By combining single-cell data with advanced statistical modeling, this work will reveal how gene perturbations dynamically alter cellular networks and drive survival or cell death, thus helping inform the development of novel cancer treatments. Dr. Torre received his PhD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and his BS from the University of Trieste, Trieste.