The Furlow Lab

Overview

The Furlow Lab is a translational research group focused on understanding and preventing the recurrence of lung tumors—both primary lung cancers and pulmonary metastatic disease—after surgery.

We integrate clinical datasets, molecular biology, and emerging AI-based approaches to identify high-risk disease, uncover actionable signaling pathways, and develop targeted therapeutic strategies. Our goal is to enable precision surgical oncology—where intraoperative and perioperative decisions are guided by real-time biological risk.

Our work is conducted in close collaboration with investigators at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, including the laboratory of Dr. Michael Yaffe at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, where we perform advanced mechanistic studies. This partnership enables a unique integration of clinical insight with cutting-edge approaches to signaling biology.

Research Projects

Biology of STAS and Aerogenous Metastasis

We investigate how tumor cells survive and spread within lung air spaces, with a focus on tumor-microenvironment interactions, lineage plasticity, and early detection methods.

Postoperative Recurrence Mechanisms

We study how surgical injury and inflammation may promote residual tumor cell survival and outgrowth, identifying opportunities for perioperative intervention.

Translational Therapeutics

We are developing targeted strategies—including inhaled therapies—to directly treat residual tumor cells within the lung and prevent recurrence.

Clinical Outcomes & Risk Stratification

Using large clinical datasets, we define high-risk pathological features to guide surgical decision making.

AI-Driven Prediction Models

We are building machine learning tools to predict recurrence risk from imaging and intraoperative pathology, with the goal or real-time clinical application.

Mechanistic studies are performed in collaboration with HMS and MIT-based laboratories to enable deep integration of tumor signaling pathways.

Publications

View publications

Open Positions

We are actively recruiting:

• Research fellows (MD, PhD, or MD-PhD).
• Residents pursuing dedicated research time.