The overarching goal of our research program is to develop a better understanding of the initiation, maintenance, progression, and treatment response of carcinomas. Our work focuses on two main areas: (1) normal and cancer stem cell biology and its implications for cancer therapy, and (2) development of genomics-based biomarkers for identifying the presence of malignant cells, prognostication, and predicting response to therapy.

Specific areas of focus include cancers of the lung, breast, and gastrointestinal system. We employ tools of genomics, stem cell biology, mouse genetics, and computational biology. Clinically, Dr. Diehn specializes in the treatment of lung cancer and leads an active clinical research program. Our ultimate goal is to develop improved treatments for patients with lung, breast, and gastrointestinal cancers.