MD Anderson announces 2022 class of Andrew Sabin Family Fellows

HOUSTON― The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has named 10 early career faculty members to the 2022 class of Andrew Sabin Family Fellows. Established by philanthropist Andrew Sabin through a generous $30 million endowment in 2015, the Sabin Family Fellowship program encourages creativity, innovation and impactful cancer research at MD Anderson in the areas of basic science, clinical, physician-scientist and population and quantitative science.

“Up-and-coming faculty members, such as these, are uniquely positioned to launch and to advance practice-changing research,” said Sabin, a senior member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors.

“They represent some of the best minds in the world, taking on novel, high-risk and high-reward research that can be rapidly translated into clinical solutions for MD Anderson’s patients. It is a privilege to provide the support they need to take their research to the next level.”

Each Sabin Family Fellow will receive $100,000 over two years. This funding frees young researchers to pursue potentially practice-changing science early in their careers when federal and private funding opportunities often are limited.

Finalists were selected through a rigorous external peer-review process. A panel of 25 internationally renowned experts participated in the review of the applications. The 2022 class of Sabin Family Fellows is:

Basic/Translational Scientists

• May Daher, M.D., assistant professor, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
• Matthew Gubin, Ph.D., assistant professor, Immunology
• Humam Kadara, Ph.D., associate professor, Translational Molecular Pathology

Clinical Researchers

• Van Morris, M.D., associate professor, Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology
• Anaeze Offodile, M.D., assistant professor, Plastic Surgery
• Paolo Strati, M.D., assistant professor, Lymphoma and Myeloma

Physician-Scientists

• Jennifer McQuade, M.D., assistant professor, Melanoma Medical Oncology
• Rahul Sheth, M.D., associate professor, Interventional Radiology

Population/Quantitative Scientists

• Veronika Fedirko, Ph.D., associate professor, Epidemiology
• Nahuriko Ikoma, M.D., assistant professor, Surgical Oncology

Since the fellowship’s establishment, 62 Sabin Family Fellows have been named for their distinction and innovation in their respective fields. The work of the Sabin Family Fellows spans the cancer care continuum, from basic science to translational research to survivorship, and is already impacting the lives of patients at MD Anderson.

“The Andrew Sabin Family Foundation’s exceptional generosity continues to touch many lives as our fellows work to dramatically improve outcomes for those who have been impacted by cancer,” said President Peter WT Pisters, M.D. “We are deeply appreciative of this ongoing partnership which decisively advances MD Anderson's efforts in Making Cancer History®.”