I am the Principal Investigator of the Reagan Laboratory at Maine Medical Center Research Institute (MMCRI). My lab studies multiple myeloma (MM), which is a blood cancer that grows predominantly within the bone marrow and, like many other bone-metastatic cancers, causes painful tissue destruction, disruption of hematopoiesis, bone fractures, and hypercalcemia. There is no cure for multiple myeloma and most patients eventually become resistant to all current therapies. Our research focuses on understanding the roles that fat cells (adipocytes), bone cells (osteoblast lineage cells), and other cells in the bone marrow niche play in mediating the progression of Multiple Myeloma. In addition to local bone marrow interactions, we are also exploring metabolic and systemic host effects that may drive myeloma disease progression and we are exploring ways to interfere in this process. The characterization of how and why bone marrow adipocytes are altered by cancer cells is another focus in my lab. Research in these areas will contribute to the discovery of novel molecular targets and development of better therapies to affect not only cancer cells, but also tumor-associated stromal cells to impede tumor growth and cancer-induced bone disease.