The unifying theme of my research is to understand the genetic mechanisms involved in the development and progression of melanocytic skin tumors and harness our understanding to improve melanoma treatment. I am well positioned to accomplish this goal since I am an expert dermatopathologist and a scientist with expertise in cancer genetics and bioinformatics. My efforts have been focused on identifying oncogenic drivers in melanocytic tumors, with the goal to identify and move new knowledge from the laboratory directly to patient care.