Harold Bhatt

Harold Bhatt has made important contributions to understanding how TGF-beta drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer, revealing that TGF-beta-induced EMT exists as a spectrum of partial states rather than a binary switch, with different partial EMT states conferring distinct metastatic properties. His research demonstrated that TGF-beta activates EMT transcription factors Snail, Slug, ZEB1, and Twist through both SMAD-dependent and SMAD-independent mechanisms to create EMT heterogeneity within tumors. He showed that partial EMT states driven by TGF-beta signaling are more metastatic than complete EMT because they maintain both migratory and proliferative capacities. His work has informed strategies to target EMT plasticity rather than complete EMT reversal.