Dr. Gatti has pioneered the development and application of analythical methods in the study of genetically diverse mice. These tools included haplotype reconstruction and genetic mapping in Diversity Outbred mice. Dr. Gatti currently develops tools and educational materials in support of investigators who are using genetically diverse mouse models.

Dr. Chen’s laboratory studies the host-microbiome interactions in mouse models of colon cancer. Her work with murine models has demonstrated that perturbations in the gut microbiome can directly contribute to the development of colon cancer and that dysbiosis can alter the tumor microenvironment. A specific interest of the Chen Lab is to identify tumor-suppressive or tumor-promoting bacteria, dietary factors that influence colorectal cancer risk, and bacteria that contribute to rectal cancer treatment responses.