Dr. Saladi’s research interests primarily focus on understanding the mechanism by which epigenetic reprogramming contributes to cellular plasticity in tumors. His research aims to define the mechanisms in which deregulated chromatin remodeling or altered chromatin landscape act as oncogenic drivers in cancer. Epigenetic reprogramming is a key oncogenic driver event in multiple cancers, however very little is known about the deregulated epigenetic programs in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

His research interests also include delineating the oncogenic role of hippo signaling pathway effector, YAP1 in squamous cell carcinomas. Hippo pathway was shown to bypass the MAPK oncogenic addiction in advanced stage of multiple cancers contributing to cancer progression. Dr. Saladi has unraveled the oncogenic role of Hippo pathway in HNSCC. He had identified WWC1 and GPRC5A (upstream inhibitors of oncogenic YAP1 activity) as repressed in HNSCC, thereby promoting tumorigenesis and conferring poor prognosis in a subset of HNSCC patients.

Collectively, Dr. Saladi integrates genomics, epigenetics, and signaling to dissect the mechanisms contributing to head and neck cancer maintenance and progression.