Rupert Overall

Rupert Overall investigates Hedgehog pathway signaling in cancer stem cell maintenance, demonstrating that GLI transcription factors drive self-renewal programs in basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, and pancreatic cancer stem cells through both cell-autonomous and paracrine stromal mechanisms. His work revealed that Hedgehog signaling from the tumor microenvironment sustains CSC niches through paracrine ligand secretion. He has characterized resistance mechanisms to Smoothened inhibitors and developed combination strategies targeting downstream GLI transcription factors. His research has advanced understanding of how developmental signaling pathways maintain cancer stemness.