The Handler Laboratory is located at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University. Our mission is to advance the understanding of pancreatic and colorectal cancer progression by uncovering the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms that drive metastasis and drug resistance, and to translate these insights into clinically meaningful therapies and diagnostics.

We envision a laboratory where curiosity drives discovery, where the beauty and complexity of biological systems inspire awe, and where innovation and rigor intersect to transform how we understand and treat cancer. We are passionate about revealing the elegant regulatory networks that govern cells and tissues, harnessing cutting-edge tools in genome engineering, synthetic biology, genomics, and computational biology to illuminate these processes. Together, as a team of motivated, thoughtful, and creative scientists, we strive to craft beautiful reagents, datasets, and ideas—always with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of patients with cancer. Our lab is a welcoming, collaborative space where everyone is encouraged to pursue their curiosity, learn fearlessly, and contribute meaningfully to the shared endeavor of science.