My long-term career goal is to improve the quality of human life, including that of Veterans, through my research. My laboratory focuses on two broad and complimentary research areas: 1) cancer biology and 2) prevention and experimental therapeutics of cancer. My overall goal is to define the critical molecular and biochemical events that occur during cancer development that in turn will assist in identifying targets and new approaches and strategies for cancer management. While interested in cancer in general, my recent focus has been on skin and prostate cancers, both of which disproportionally affect the Veteran population. Examples of ongoing research in my laboratory are as follows. We are studying the role and functional significance of mitotic regulators, including the polo-like kinase (Plk) family of serine/threonine kinases, and how these factors interact with other important cell signaling pathways to influence cancer development and progression. In addition, we are trying to understand the role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+ -dependent deacetylases, namely the Sirtuin family proteins, in the development and/or progression of cancer. The second major focus of my research is to define the cancer chemopreventive/therapeutic potential of a variety of agents, such as resveratrol (a phytoalexin antioxidant found in grapes, nuts, berries and red wine), melatonin (the chief secretory product of the pineal gland and a known antioxidant), vitamin E (the major antioxidant in biomembranes) and selenium (an essential micronutrient for humans). My current VA-sponsored research focuses on identifying the mechanism of melanoma development and progression. This research area is extremely relevant to VA healthcare as the U.S. military engages in missions all over the world, including in the Middle East (Iraq and Afghanistan). Deployment to these regions results in significant UV irradiation exposure that increases the risk for malignant melanoma in the Veterans returning from these areas. Based on several studies, an increased incidence of melanoma was reported for World War II Veterans stationed in the Pacific and those exposed to dioxin-contaminated herbicides during Operation Ranch Hand in Vietnam. My ongoing research aims at defining the molecular mechanism of melanoma development. I believe that my research findings are moving towards the identification of novel strategies for the management of this deadly neoplasm. Thus, my work is relevant and significant to Veteran's healthcare and is in line with the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The results of my research are published in a wide range of high-impact scientific journals. I have published more than 170 papers, 150 abstracts and several book chapters (Total Citations: 17,705; h-index, 65; i10-index: 1256 Source: Google Scholar; 8/2016). I serve as an Associate Editor of two well-respected journals, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology and Photochemistry and Photobiol...