Wilkes University Student Sean Thomas of Laflin, Pa., Uses Fruit Flies to Study Link between Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Pathway and Cancer

2013 Aug 9

Sean Thomas of Laflin, Pa., is a member of a group of Wilkes University students spending the summer semester studying the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway of fruit flies. Abnormal growth of this pathway has been associated with several cancers. The students are characterizing genes whose expressions increase when the growth factor receptor pathway is overactive to study how it effects development in the flies and detect important targets in other animals, including humans. Other members of the group include Luke Dombert, Kristopher Krawchuk and Connor Zale. Lisa Kadlec, associate professor of biology, directs the students' research.

Thomas is a sophomore biology major and the son of Justin and Tracy Thomas.