Research
Research Laboratories
Chen (Junjie) Laboratory
The Chen Laboratory investigates the roles of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes in DNA repair and other signaling pathways involved in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis.
Gan Laboratory
Research in the Gan Laboratory focuses on the roles of energy metabolism and nutrient sensing in cancer. They study how normal cells and cancer cells sense energy and nutrient availability and how cancer cells adapt to survive and grow under metabolic stress. Their work aims to translate our understanding of cancer metabolism into novel effective cancer therapeutics.
Kalocsay Laboratory
The Kalocsay lab uses quantitative mass spectrometry to understand receptor signaling. The lab has pioneered proximity sensitive proteomics to precisely define functional interactions in situ at unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution and developed proximity phospho-proteomics to precisely follow protein phosphorylation during signaling. The lab plans to leverage proximity-proteomics and mass spectrometry (MS) to study dynamics and aberrations of signaling processes in the context of immune checkpoints.
Keyomarsi & Hunt Laboratory
The KeyHunt Laboratory is directed by Dr. Khandan Keyomarsi and Dr. Kelly K. Hunt. The lab is focused on clinical and translational cancer research in solid tumors, primarily in breast cancers and sarcomas. The laboratory has developed a research program for identifying novel therapeutic strategies and prognostic markers based on alterations in G1/S and G2/M checkpoints in tumor cells focusing on solid tumors such as breast, sarcoma, pancreatic and lung cancers.
Ma Laboratory
The overarching goal of the Ma Laboratory is to advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression and metastasis and to advance anti-metastatic therapy through groundbreaking research in RNA biology and tumor cell signaling.
Mazur Laboratory
The aim of the Mazur Laboratory is to define upfront polytherapy approaches based upon deep systematic interrogation of the aberrant molecular pathways operating in lung and pancreatic cancer to combat or eliminate targeted and immunotherapy resistance and transform the two most deadly human cancers from lethal disease into a curable condition. The lab's approach is to (1) develop novel promising immunotherapy approaches using T lymphocytes engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR T cells) to act as a "living drug" to kill cancer cells, (2) utilize the lab's recently published method for in vivo CRISPR-mediated somatic-engineering to generate a pharmacogenomic map that will guide patient treatment and (3) identify novel and “orphan” enzymes substrates important in driving cancer progression and drug resistance. Ultimately, the lab hopes to build a comprehensive disease modeling platform to study novel signaling networks and generate innovative therapeutics using animal models that frightfully represent human disease and to decipher mechanisms of cancer progression and drug resistance.
Meistrich/Shetty Laboratory
Research in the Meistrich/Shetty Laboratory is directed towards fertility preservation in boys and young men undergoing cancer therapy. Using rodent and non-human primate model systems, they are testing hormonal and retinoid treatments for modifying the sensitivity and recovery potential of spermatogonial stem cells. They are also investigating transplantation and grafting of cryopreserved spermatogonial stem cells or testis tissue grafting of cryopreserved material containing stem spermatogonia for the restoration of sperm production. In addition, the lab is also assessing the levels of genetic mutations in human sperm obtained during and after cancer therapy in order to evaluate genetic risks to offspring from pregnancies that might result.
Park Laboratory
The overarching goal of the research program in the Park Laboratory is to understand the mechanisms of tissue regeneration and tumorigenesis by employing genetically engineered mice and organoids. Their recent investigations have aimed to address two critical questions: Is tumor cell plasticity a therapeutic vulnerability of cancer? Can manipulating cell plasticity promote tissue regeneration, or even prevent tissue damage?
Piwnica-Worms (Helen) Laboratory
The Piwnica-Worms Laboratory identifies alterations with functional significance to the development and progression of invasive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and examines how fasting and different diets protect small intestinal stem cells from lethal levels of DNA damage induced by chemotherapy or ionizing radiation.
Zhao Laboratory
Over the past decade, large-scale cancer genome studies have uncovered emerging genetic alterations in malignancies. The Zhao Laboratory in the Experimental Radiation Oncology department focuses on functional genomics of prostate cancer, with a special interest in understanding crosstalk between cancer cells and immune components in the tumor microenvironment and metastatic niche. Areas of Research: prostate cancer, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and tumor microenvironment.
Four MD Anderson researchers elected AAAS Fellows
HOUSTON ― In recognition of their significant achievements in the realm of cancer care and research, four researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This prestigious distinction stands as one of the highest accolades within the scientific research community.
Boyi Gan, Ph.D., Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, M.D., Li Ma, Ph.D., and Sattva Neelapu, M.D., now join this esteemed group of fellows elected by their peers. AAAS’s annual tradition of recognizing leading scientists as fellows dates to 1874. With these newest additions, 68 MD Anderson faculty members have been elected AAAS Fellows.
"We proudly congratulate Drs. Gan, Gomez-Manzano, Ma and Neelapu for their outstanding dedication and innovative contributions to cancer care and research," said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “This group exemplifies MD Anderson’s commitment to breakthrough science, and these individuals are highly deserving of this honor from AAAS.”
MD Anderson’s research environment provides unique opportunities for seamless collaboration between clinicians and scientists, allowing new insights to flow from the lab to the clinic and back. Breakthroughs from the lab can rapidly be developed into new therapies to be evaluated in the clinic, and clinical results can guide laboratory studies in real time. This virtuous cycle of innovation, grounded in collaboration, connectivity and data-based science, accelerates discoveries in ways not possible at other institutions.
Gan, professor of Experimental Radiation Oncology, was elected for his contributions to understanding and targeting ferroptosis in cancer and to discovering disulfidptosis as a new form of regulated cell death. He is recognized worldwide as a leader for these achievements and for the development of novel cancer therapies targeting these pathways. Gan currently serves as director of the Radiation and Cancer Metabolism Research Program in Division of Radiation Oncology and leads Acquired Resistance to Therapy and Iron (ARTI) Center at MD Anderson.
Gomez-Manzano, professor of Neuro-Oncology, was elected for her contributions to generating engineered oncolytic adenoviruses, which target and destroy cancer cells while minimizing the negative impact on normal cells, to treat adult and pediatric tumors. She is also recognized for her work in propelling cancer viro-immunotherapy. Gomez-Manzano serves as co-lead of MD Anderson’s Glioblastoma Moon Shot® and co-lead of the Neuro-Neoplasm Initiative within MD Anderson’s Cancer Neuroscience Program.
Ma, professor of Experimental Radiation Oncology, was elected for her fundamental discoveries of cancer spread and resistance to treatment that have transformed the field, including pioneering work on the role of long non-coding RNAs in metastasis. As a prominent scientist in the field, she has reached numerous significant research milestones and has authored more than 65 papers in leading peer-reviewed journals.
Neelapu, professor of Lymphoma and Myeloma, was selected for his clinical and translational research, focusing on developing novel immunotherapeutic strategies for patients with lymphoma. Through his contributions, expertise and leadership, Neelapu has earned recognition nationally and internationally in the field of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. As a physician-scientist, his contributions to clinical and translational research have resulted in at least two Food and Drug Administration approvals and multiple patent filings of novel immune and cell therapy approaches that soon will be evaluated in clinic.
"The AAAS Fellows are composed of exceptional scientists whose outstanding research achievements showcase the transformative influence of science on our world," said Giulio Draetta, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer at MD Anderson. “We celebrate these distinguished MD Anderson scientists, who epitomize our continual dedication to progress in cancer care, research and prevention.”