In cancerous cells, normal controls regulating cell division are lost. Genes such as tumour suppressors encode do not divide signals. When these are inhibited, excess cell divisions produces a tumour. Equally important are signals that tell cells to stick together. These two signals must be balanced. Cancer proceeds when the signals for cells stick together and cells do not divide are mis-regulated. How these processes are regulated is thus an important question. Our laboratory focuses on the tumour suppressor Merlin. Loss of Merlin activity leads to Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) which causes tumours in the brain and spinal cord. How Merlin tells the cell do not divide is not understood. We are using genetic analysis in fruit flies to identify proteins that interact with Merlin to help it carry out its functions. We propose that large complex of proteins, work together with Merlin to control cell proliferation and adhesion. Our ultimate goal to aid in diagnosis and therapy of NF2 tumours is to understand how Merlin acts as a tumour suppressor.