What causes cancer? Attempts to answer this question by studying gene sequence were faced with limited success. This research program is taking a different approach to understand cancer biology by focusing on RNA processing and degradation. We use yeast as a model system to understand how changes in RNA processing and stability influences cell growth and study human tissues to define the contribution of RNA splicing to cancer outcome and drug resistance. In the coming years we will determine how splicing and RNA degradation regulate gene function and how this regulation influence cancer outcome.