Let's say I'm a researcher at a cancer laboratory. I'm working on understanding how mutations in certian genes predisposes women to cancer.

I know from epidemiological analyses that if women inherit a specific mutation in the BRCA2 gene, they will have roughly an 80 per cent chance (controlling for lifestyle factors, like smoking, weight, etc) of developing an aggressive breast cancer in their lifetimes.

From reading the literature, I suspect the BRCA2 gene may be involved in controlling the cell cycle (ie the mechanisms by which the cell divides and grows). I want to find out more about how this gene works -- exactly how it controls cell division. I think that if I discover how it works, I may one day be able to design a drug that can help fix the problems in the cell that happen when the gene is mutated.

What do I do? What is the next step?

The above is an open solicitation for answers. Put yourself in the scientists' shoes. How would you go about doing your research? What tools do you think are available to you?