The Ruslan Soldatov Lab

The Soldatov Lab aims to characterize the mechanisms of cell fate decisions that coordinate tissue function and quantify how distortions of these mechanisms shape the course of cancer evolution. We are broadly interested in using a large-scale data science approach to study questions related to the organization of normal tissues and cancer, viewing it as a dynamic ecosystem of fundamental units — cells. We study the impact of stem cell heterogeneity on tissue function. In particular, we focus on the role of stem cell phenotypes, such as proliferative capacity or regenerative potential, in cancer initiation and evolution. We seek to characterize how regulatory circuits enable phenotypic plasticity to emerge, allowing cancers to evolve and evade treatments. Finally, we are interested in how the microenvironment and external insults, such as injury or pathogens, reshape cell fate decisions. To advance these questions, we develop computational methods to analyze cellular heterogeneity using high-throughput measurements at the level of individual cells. The lab leverages machine learning approaches, dynamic systems theory, and data science to gain insights into the evolution of tissue ecosystems in the context of basic and translational science.