Our Research
Being a scientist is a fortune; it entails having the ability to influence lives as they are being formed
Cell-to-cell communication in the tumor microenvironment
It has now been over a decade since the cancer field recognized the importance of the tumor microenvironment in cancer development, progression, and escape from the immune system. In the Levy lab, we study cancer cell communication with the tumor environment. We investigate how tumor cells interact with surrounding stromal cells and with immune cells and how communication occurs through exchange of extracellular vesicles. We aim to understand how tumor cells escape the immune system and how tumor progression occurs. Our work informs strategies to disrupt tumor-promoting interactions and enhance therapeutic efficacy.
Interplay between genomic DNA and cancer
Mutations are key factors in cancer development. We dive into the nucleus, studying DNA damage and repair processes, mutation hot spots, epigenetic modifications, and transcription factor activity. Our goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms that influence genomic DNA during cancer progression, starting from normal cells.
The unexplored functions of skin
The skin serves as a vital mediator of human physiology, and our lab also explores the poorly understood functions of the skin as an endocrinology organ and as a mediator of the immune system. We use various methods to understand how external forces (such as UVB exposure) mediate skin gene expression and the secretion of factors from skin cells that mediate the normal physiology and cancer development.
Immunological forces in the tumor microenvironment
The tumor microenvironment is a dynamic battleground shaped by immune cells, signaling molecules, and physical forces. We study how T cells, macrophages, and other immune populations interact with tumor and stromal cells, both biochemically and mechanically, to determine immune activation, suppression, or evasion. By dissecting these immune–tumor dynamics, we aim to reveal mechanisms that can be harnessed to enhance anti-tumor immunity and improve immunotherapeutic strategies.
The brain as a tumor microenvironment and a neuroimmune organ
The brain represents a unique physiological, metabolic and immunological landscape, one that also serves as a specialized tumor microenvironment in cases of brain metastases and primary brain tumors. Our lab studies how cancer cells adapt to and exploit the neural niche, how immune and glial cells shape tumorbehavior, and how neuronal activity influences cancer progression. Beyond oncology, we explore how systemic factors such as inflammation, UV exposure, and stress affect brain physiology and brain–immune communication. This line of research aims to uncover molecular pathways linking the nervous system, immunity, and cancer biology.