Cancer cells induce the recruitment of, and are interdispersed within, a tumor stroma that includes fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells and extracellular matrix components. Indeed, an activated stroma promotes breast cancer progression and facilitates metastatic spread, the most devastating aspect of this disease. Dr. Ursini-Siegel is interested in understanding the mechanism by which the ShcA adaptor protein regulates signal transduction pathways in breast cancer cells to facilitate communication with the local microenvironment and promote the establishment of a pro-tumorigenic reactive stroma. To achieve this, she utilizes a genetic approach to alter ShcA signalling or expression in well characterized transgenic breast cancer mouse models.