Lab Members

Katharina Schlacher, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, Cancer Biology
KSchlacher@mdanderson.org

Postdoctoral Fellow: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with Maria Jasin, Ph.D., and at University of California, Los Angeles with Hong Wu, M.D., Ph.D.
Graduate: University of Southern California under Myron Goodman, Ph.D.
M.Sc.: Karl-Franzens University, Graz, Austria
Undergraduate: Karl-Franzens University, Graz, Austria

Katharina trained as a microbiologist and biochemist before moving into cancer biology with single molecule expertise and animal work. Her lab collaborates extensively with physicians in breast, prostate, blood and ovarian cancer and Fanconi Anemia, a developmental disease resulting in bone marrow failure and cancer. She discovered a new DNA replication pathway in BRCA1/2 defective cells, which she termed fork protection, which controls inflammation and genome stability. She continues to combine her expertise in molecular, biochemical and disease understanding for hypothesis-driven innovative research. 

Outside the lab, Katharina enjoys music, arts and nature. She also manages her "mini zoo" at home consisting of her two daughters, a dog, a cat and a bunny. 

        Brittany Fallis Miklis
        Sr. Administrative Assistant
        bfmiklis@mdanderson.org

Yue Chen — Research Scientist

Yue Chen graduated from Nankai University in China and obtained her Ph.D. degree from Chinese Academy of Sciences. Prior to joining the Schlacher’s Lab in 2021, she worked as postdoctoral fellow at the Baylor College of Medicine where her research interest involves proteomics of transmembrane receptors and DNA-bound nuclear receptor-coregulator complexes. In Schlacher’s lab, Yue helps handle general lab operations including management of demand and supplies, maintenance of laboratory equipments, mentoring and training new members. Additionally, Yue participates in several research projects using microscopic studies as well as various cellular and molecular assays to investigate the role of different FA proteins in replication fork instability.

Sunetra Roy — Research Scientist

Sunetra completed her undergraduate degree in human physiology and master's in life sciences in India. She briefly worked in a drug discovery company before moving to the United States to pursue her Ph.D. Sunetra completed her Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology in the field of DNA repair from Michigan State University. She then joined the Schlacher lab as a postdoctoral fellow in 2015 and worked on the roles of p53, RAD51C and BRCA2 in maintaining replication fork stability. Outside of work, Sunetra enjoys travelling and exploring new places to visit.

Macy Lozen — Research Assistant II

Macy is a native of Austin, Texas, who earned her B.S. in Health Science at Friends University and M.S. in Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan. She completed her master’s research in Dr. Yan Zhang’s lab, where she tested various anti-CRISPR proteins for their inhibition of Neisseria CRISPR-Cas systems. Macy is currently investigating the mechanism of inflammation-induced chemotherapy resistance at the crosstalk of nuclear and mitochondrial genome instability.

When she isn’t working, Macy enjoys being active and spending time with her dogs.

Momo Harris — Research Assistant II

Momo earned her B.S. in Biology from Brigham Young University in 2018. She has become Schlacher Lab’s resident “Mouse Lady” since joining in 2021, managing colonies and executing experiments for the majority of our animal models. Her main projects include embryo studies and drug treatment experiments for our Brca2/Rad51c mouse model.

Outside of work, Momo plays the flute with the Houston Concert Band, spends time with her husband and son and crochets. She also is an avid board-gamer and is always looking for others to join in on a weekend game night.