Our laboratory investigates the formation and progression of pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal human malignancies. We study embryonic signaling pathways, such as Hedgehog and Wnt, which are activated during pancreatic carcinogenesis. The Hedgehog signaling pathway is not active in healthy adult pancreas. However, in pre-malignant lesions and in invasive pancreatic cancer Hedgehog signaling becomes activated via overexpression of one of the ligands, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh).