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Cancer Biology

The Cancer Biology Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) is dedicated to providing students with the highest quality of training in diverse areas of cancer biology research.

The Cancer Biology Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) is dedicated to providing students with the highest quality of training in diverse areas of cancer biology research.

Given the unique environment of the Texas Medical Center, the philosophy of the Cancer Biology Program is to supplement traditional graduate school training with both depth and breadth of knowledge in cancer biology. 

Students will follow the standard format of choosing a single mentor who will guide an independent research project. However, our students frequently use the resources and expertise of several laboratories in different departments during the development of their cancer-related dissertation projects. This training provides a rich experience that increases the expertise and competitiveness of our graduates. 

Currently, we have about 70 students and 120 faculty affiliated with the program. Our students have been among the most outstanding and productive of the GSBS. They also have been the recipients of many GSBS awards, as well as nationally competitive awards and fellowships. Like the faculty, the students bring wide-ranging perspectives and goals to their research. The program excels in accommodating these interests while fostering interactions among all of our students.

The program faculty are eager to train motivated students, and will gladly provide additional information with respect to their research programs and training opportunities in their laboratories.

This is an exciting new era in cancer research. A systematic training in cancer biology should allow our students to meet the challenge of Making Cancer History.

Cancer Biology Overview Photo

Program Activities & Opportunities

  • Activities

    Under construction, check back soon for exciting new events!

  • Travel Awards

    Cancer Biology Program Travel Award Application

    Virtual Travel Awards are also being accepted and will cover up to $150 towards registration to present a poster or give an oral talk.

    CB Travel Award Application

    CB Virtual Travel Award Application

    PURPOSE
    The purpose of the Cancer Biology travel award is to help defray your expenses to attend a meeting or course. 

    GUIDELINES & ELEGIBILITY
    Cancer Biology Travel awards are $500.00 each. Each student can receive only one award per academic year. Cancer Biology students presenting results at a national or international meeting, or attending a course, are eligible to apply. All applications will be reviewed by the Cancer Biology Program Directors.  Students will be notified of their award status within two weeks after the application submission date.

    INSTRUCTIONS
    Please submit these items via email in a single PDF to Dawn Wolf-Taylor: [email protected]

    • This completed form signed by you and your advisor
    • Copy of your meeting registration form or course registration form
    • Copy of your updated CV
    • Copy of your PI’s CV – including current lab funding information
    • Confirm if you have any fellowships that cover travel expenses
    • Copy of your abstract and abstract acceptance, if attending a meeting. If you have not received your abstract acceptance, or course acceptance, please list an approximate acceptance date. The award will be contingent upon such acceptance.
  • CPRIT Grant

    The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

    CPRIT Training Grant

    The Future of Cancer Research: Training Program for Basic and Translational Scientists

    The CPRIT Training Grant at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is a training program funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and provides a strong academic foundation to launch the careers of new cancer researchers by leveraging the outstanding faculty expertise and cancer research environment provided by MD Anderson and GSBS. The specific goals of the program for our predoctoral trainees are to: 

    1. Generate a strong basic science platform for studies in cancer-related disciplines. Each predoctoral trainee is expected to achieve a fundamental understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms or biophysical concepts related to cancer.
    2. Provide exposure to cancer research subspecialties, translational cancer research, cross-disciplinary training and stimulate critical thinking skills.
    3. Groom future leaders in cancer research through career development and ethical training.
    4. Provide high-quality mentoring by prominent cancer researchers.

    The CPRIT training grant has funding for nine predoctoral (7 supported by CPRIT and 2 supported by funds from MD Anderson) + five post-doctoral trainees + fifty undergraduate summer students (20 supported by CPRIT, 10 supported by GSBS, 10 supported by MD Anderson and 10 supported by the Cancer Center Core Grant).

    Eligibility for predoctoral trainees:

    • No citizenship requirement
    • Post-candidacy GSBS Ph.D. graduate program or M.D., Ph.D. program in good academic standing
    • GPA of 3.5 or better in all GSBS courses.
    • Completion of qualifying examination is required
    • Current thesis mentor is a faculty mentor of CPRIT grant

    Call for applications – Spring of 2018

    We expect to send out the next call for applications for predoctoral trainees with application guidelines in the Spring of 2018.

    For graduating students interested in a postdoctoral slot for the training program, or any other questions please contact the program director, Dr. Khandan Keyomarsi, or the program manager, Mr. Alex Gomez.

    Program Director

    Khandan Keyomarsi, PhD
    Hubert L. and Olive Stringer Professor in Medical Oncology
    Distinguished Teaching Professor
    Director, TRIUMPH post-doctoral program
    Director, Cancer Biology Graduate program
    Department of Experimental Oncology

    The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
    6565 MD Anderson Blvd. Unit 1052
    Houston, Texas 77030-4009

    [email protected]

    Co-Director

    Stephanie Watowich, PhD
    Professor, Department of Immunology
    Co-Director, Center for Inflammation and Cancer

    UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
    P.O. Box 301402, Unit 902
    Houston, TX 77030-1904

    [email protected]

  • Susan G. Komen Training Grant in Health Disparities

    MD Anderson Training Program to Reduce Breast Cancer Disparities
    in Black and Hispanic Women

    Through generous funding from a Susan G. Komen Graduate Training in Disparities Research Grant, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Training Program to Reduce Breast Cancer Disparities in Black and Hispanic Women seeks to develop the next cadre of leaders in breast cancer disparities research, who will be equipped to develop novel strategies to improve the lives of black and Hispanic women with and at risk for breast cancer.

    The overall goal of our training program is to recruit highly-qualified graduate students (masters and doctoral) and launch them into research careers focused on reducing breast cancer disparities. Trainees will achieve this goal through the following program activities:

    1) Individually-tailored, mentored research projects in breast cancer disparities;

    2) Interactive, community-based and clinical breast cancer experiences;

    3) Didactic coursework and seminars in breast cancer disparities; and

    4) Breast cancer disparities symposium

    Our program will support three graduate students each year for one-year appointments, and will provide full support to trainees including a mentoring team consisting of a faculty and community mentor, tuition, stipend, and supplies.

    Application Materials:

    1. Discover Application Form
    2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
    3. Three (3) letters of recommendation
    4. Personal statement describing your professional goals, research interests, and commitment to breast cancer disparities research
    5. Mentor letter of support (if already identified)
    6. Academic Transcripts

    Application Deadline: Spring, 2018 (date to be announced)

    Program Leaders:

    Lorna McNeill, PhD, MPH
    Associate Professor and Chair
    Department of Health Disparities Research
    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 713-563-1103

    Kelly Hunt, MD
    Professor and Chair
    Department of Breast Surgical Oncology
    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: 713-792-7216

    For more information, please contact Crystal Roberson at [email protected] or 713-794-1074.

  • Cancer Biology Fall 2024 Retreat

    Cancer Biology Program Fall 2024 Retreat
    September 20-21, 2024
    Margaritaville Resort/Conroe, TX

    For questions about the Retreat, please contact Dawn Wolf-Taylor, [email protected] 

Cancer Biology Awards & Publications

  • Student Awards

    Congratulations to all of our Cancer Biology Students who placed in their competitions at the GSBS Virtual Graduate Student Research Day event on June 24th, 2021!!!

     2021 Virtual Oral Presentation Skills Competition:
    Pre-Candidacy PhD and MS: 2nd Place – Ko-Chien Chen (advisor: Dr. Ronald DePinho)

     2021 Virtual Elevator Speech Competition:
    1st year PhD & MS Category: 2nd place – Daisy Diaz Rohena (advisor: Dr. Deepa Sampath)
    2nd year+ PhD Category: 1st place – Sonia Patel (advisor: Dr. John Heymach)
    2nd year+ PhD Category: 2nd Tie – Kimberly Rivera Caraballo (advisor: Dr. Balveen Kaur)

    Congratulations to Cancer Biology Student Fellowship, Scholarship and Award Recipients 

    Rakhee Bajaj (mentor: Don Gibbons, MD, PhD)
    2021-2022 MD Anderson CPRIT Research Training Program Scholar
    2020-2021 T.C. Hsu Memorial Scholarship

    Recep Bayraktar (mentor: George Calin, MD, PhD
    2021-2022 Andrew Sowell-Wade Huggins Scholarship in Cancer Research

    Ana Bolivar (mentor: Eduardo Vilar-Sanchez, MD, PhD)
    2020-2021 Predoctoral Fellow in the training program on Translational Genomics and Precision Medicine Approaches in Cancer

    Emily Caggiano (mentor: Cullen Taniguchi, MD, PhD)
    2022-2023 American Legion Auxiliary Fellowship in Cancer Research

    Li Cai (mentor: Ronald DePinho, MD)
    2021-2022 Andrew Sowell-Wade Huggins Scholarship in Cancer Research
    2020 GSBS Endowment Scholarship

    Vidhi Chandra (mentor: Florencia McAllister, PhD)
    2022 GSBS Presidents' Research Scholarship
    2020-2021 Investing in Student Futures Fellowship
    2019-2020 Scholarship for Excellence in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center

    Ko-Chien Chen (mentor: Ronald DePinho, MD)
    2021-2022 Floyd Haar, MD Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Memory of Freda Haar

    Olu Coker (mentor: E. Scott Kopetz, MD, PhD)
    2020-2021 Predoctoral Fellowship position in the training program on Translational Genomics and Precision Medicine Approaches in Cancer

    Sharvari Dharmaiah (mentor: Jason Huse, MD, PhD)
    2021-2022 Ray Meyn Scholarship for Cancer Research

    Daisy Diaz-Rohena (mentor: Deepa Sampath, PhD)
    2022-2023 American Legion Auxiliary Fellowship in Cancer Research

    Mary Fuentes (mentor: Pawel Mazur, PhD)
    2021-2022 R.W. Butcher Student Achievement Scholarship
    2021-2022 MD Anderson CPRIT Research Training Program Scholar
    2020-2021 The Fadine Jackson Roquemore Scholarship in Cancer Research
    2019-2020 American Legion Auxiliary Fellowship in Cancer Research
    2018-2019 Sylvan Rodriguez Foundation Scholarship honoring George M. Stancel, Ph.D.

    Carolina Garcia-Garcia (mentor: Cullen Taniguchi, MD, PhD)
    2022 Dr. John J. Kopchick Fellowship - Renewal
    2021 GSBS Presidents' Research Scholarship
    2021 Dr. John J. Kopchick Fellowship
    2018-2019 Ellen Taylor Goldin Legacy Scholarship
    2017-2018 Sylvan Rodriguez Foundation Scholarship honoring George M. Stancel, Ph.D.

    Deanna Glassman (mentor: Anil Sood, MD)
    2021-2022 Cancer Answers Scholarship

    Sarah Glazer (mentor: David Piwnica-Worms, MD, PhD)
    2017-2018 Sylvan Rodriguez Foundation Scholarship honoring George M. Stancel, Ph.D.

    Jincheng Han (mentor: Ronald DePinho, MD)
    2021-2022 Andrew Sowell-Wade Huggins Scholarship in Cancer Research

    Cheng-En Hsieh (mentor: Michael Curran, PhD)
    2021-2022 Andrew Sowell-Wade Huggins Scholarship in Cancer Research
    2021-2022 MD Anderson CPRIT Research Training Program Scholar
    2019-2020 Ralph B. Arlinghaus, Ph.D. Scholarship

    Wen-Hao Hsu (mentor: Ronald DePinho, MD)
    2022-2023 Pauline Altman-Goldstein Foundation Discovery Fellowship - Renewal
    2021-2022 George M. Stancel, Ph.D. Fellowship in the Biomedical Sciences
    2021-2022 MD Anderson CPRIT Research Training Program Scholar
    2021-2022 Pauline Altman-Goldstein Foundation Discovery Fellowship

    Sunada Khadka (mentor: Florian Muller, PhD)
    2021-2022 Cancer Answers/Sylvan Rodriguez Scholarship
    2020-2021 Renewal - Larry Deaven Ph.D. Fellowship in Biomedical Sciences
    }2019-2020 Larry Deaven Ph.D. Fellowship in Biomedical Sciences
    2019-2020 R.W. Butcher Student Achievement Scholarship

    Kyle LaBella (mentor: Ronald DePinho, MD)
    2022-2023 American Legion Auxiliary Fellowship in Cancer Research - Renewal
    2022 Dr. John J. Kopchick Fellow
    2021-2022 American Legion Auxiliary Fellowship in Cancer Research 

    Hey Min Lee (mentor: E. Scott Kopetz, MD, PhD)
    2021-2022 Ralph B. Arlinghaus, Ph.D. Scholarship

    Jiexi Li (mentor: Ronald DePinho, MD)
    2022 GSBS Presidents' Research Scholarship
    2021-2022 T.C. Hsu Memorial Scholarship
    2019-2020 Meyn Scholarship for Cancer Research

    Shengxin Li (mentor: Hyun-Eui Kim, PhD)
    2020-2021 Sam Taub and Beatrice Burton Endowed Fellowship in Vision Disease

    Abdallah Mohamed (mentor: Clifton Fuller, MD, PhD)
    2018-2019 Andrew Sowell-Wade Huggins Scholarship in Cancer Research

    Swati Mohapatra (mentor: George Calin, MD, PhD)
    2021-2022 Steve Lasher and Janiece Longoria Graduate Student Research Award in Cancer Biology

    Maria Monberg (mentor: Anirban Maitra, MBBS)
    2021-2022 American Legion Auxiliary Fellowship in Cancer Research 

    Jayanta Mondal (mentor: Jason Huse, MD, PhD)
    2022-2023 Schissler Foundation Fellowship

    Ryan Nini (mentor: Peter Friedl, MD, PhD)
    2018-2019 Scholarship for Excellence in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center

    Thomaia Pamplin (mentor: Curtis Pickering, PhD)
    2021-2022 Cancer Answers Scholarship

    Sonia Patel (mentor: John Heymach, MD, PhD)
    2022 Linda M. Wells GSBS Outreach Award
    2022-2023 Schissler Foundation Fellowship
    2022 Dr. John J. Kopchick Fellow
    2021-2022 MD Anderson CPRIT Research Training Program Scholar
    2020-2021 Investing in Student Futures Fellowship

    Jing Qian (mentor: Powel Brown, MD, PhD)
    2020-2021 Ray Meyn Scholarship for Cancer Research

    Dhwani Rupani (mentor: Andrew Rhim, MD)
    2019-2020 Floyd Haar, MD Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Memory of Freda Haar

    Vivian Salama (mentor: Clifton Fuller, MD, PhD)
    2022-2023 American Legion Auxiliary Fellowship in Cancer Research

    Hannah Savage (mentor: Keri Schadler, PhD)
    2020-2021 Schissler Foundation Fellowship
    2019-2020 Scholarship for Excellence in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center 

    Dong Ho Shin (mentor: Juan Fueyo, MD)
    2022-2023 John and Rebekah Harper Fellowship - Renewal
    2021-2022 John and Rebekah Harper Fellowship - Renewal
    2020-2021 John and Rebekah Harper Fellowship
    2018 Terry and Janet Klebe Fellowship

    Oscar Villarreal (mentor: E. Scott Kopetz, MD, PhD)
    2022 Charlene Kopchick Fellow

    Amanda Warner (mentor: Don Gibbons, MD, PhD)
    2021-2022 Deans Excellence Scholarship 

    Xiaojie Yang (mentor: Pawel Mazur, PhD)
    2020-2021 The Antje Wuelfrath Gee and Harry Gee, Jr. Family Legacy Scholarship

    Fatma Yasar (mentor: Jian Hu, PhD)
    2019-2020 Steve Lasher and Janiece Longoria Graduate Student Research Award in Cancer Biology
    2019 Graduate Student Research Day – Elevator Speech Competition – 1st place as well as the winner of the People’s Choice Award

    Rui Ye (mentor: Steven Lin, MD, PhD)
    2022-2023 Rosalie B. Hite Fellowship - Renewal
    2021-2022 GSBS Endowment Scholarship
    2021-2022 Rosalie B. Hite Fellowship

    Er-Yen Yen (mentor: Giulio Draetta, MD, PhD)
    2021-2022 Investing in Student Futures Fellowship
    2021-2022 MD Anderson CPRIT Research Training Program Scholar
    2021-2022 Rosalie B. Hite Fellowship
    2019-2020 Andrew Sowell-Wade Huggins Scholarships in Cancer Research 

    Daniel Zamler (mentor: Giulio Draetta, MD, PhD)
    2021-2022 Jesse B. Heath, Jr. Family Legacy Award
    2019-2020 Andrew Sowell-Wade Huggins Scholarships in Cancer Research

  • Publications

    High Impact Student Publications - Current Students

    (This is not an exhaustive list - page currently under construction)

    Dance of The Golgi: Understanding Golgi Dynamics in Cancer Metastasis.
    Bajaj, R.; Warner, A.N.; Fradette, J.F.; Gibbons, D.L.  
    Cells 2022, 11, 1484. https://doi.org/10.3390/ cells11091484

    Chromatin Regulator CHD1 Remodels the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment in PTEN-Deficient Prostate Cancer.
    Di Zhao, Li Cai, Xin Lu, Xin Liang, Jiexi Li, Peiwen Chen, Michael Ittmann, Xiaoying Shang, Shan Jiang, Haoyan Li, Chenling Meng, Ivonne Flores, Jian H Song, James W Horner, Zhengdao Lan, Chang-Jiun Wu, Jun Li, Qing Chang, Ko-Chien Chen, Guocan Wang, Pingna Deng, Denise J Spring, Y Alan Wang, Ronald A DePinho.
    Cancer Discovery. 2020 Sep;10(9):1374-1387. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-19-1352. 
    PMID: 32385075.

    Therapeutic potential of microbial modulation in pancreatic cancer
    Chandra V, McAllister F.
    Gut. 2021 Apr 27:gutjnl-2019-319807. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-319807. Epub ahead of print.
    PMID: 33906958.

     Interleukin-17-induced neutrophil extracellular traps mediate resistance to checkpoint blockade in pancreatic cancer.
    Zhang Y*, Chandra V*, Riquelme Sanchez E*, Dutta P, Quesada PR, Rakoski A, Zoltan M, Arora N, Baydogan S, Horne W, Burks J, Xu H, Hussain P, Wang H, Gupta S, Maitra A, Bailey JM, Moghaddam SJ, Banerjee S, Sahin I, Bhattacharya P, McAllister F.
    J Exp Med. 2020 Dec 7;217(12):e20190354. doi: 10.1084/jem.20190354.
    PMID: 32860704; PMCID: PMC7953739. *co-first authors

     Mouse T cell priming is enhanced by maturation-dependent stiffening of the dendritic cell cortex.
    Blumenthal D, Chandra V, Avery L, Burkhardt JK.
    Elife. 2020 Jul 27;9:e55995. doi: 10.7554/eLife.55995.
    PMID: 32720892; PMCID: PMC7417170.

    Predictors of Radiation-Induced Liver Disease in Eastern and Western Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Proton Beam Therapy.
    Hsieh CE, Venkatesulu BP, Lee CH, Hung SP, Wong PF, Aithala SP, Kim BK, Rao A, Tung-Chieh Chang J, Tsang NM, Wang CC, Lee CC, Lin CC, Tseng JH, Chou WC, Wang YC, Krishnan S, Hong JH.
    Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2019 Sep 1;105(1):73-86. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.02.032. Epub 2019 Feb 21.
    PMID: 30797890

    Prognostic Value of Tumor Heterogeneity and SUVmax of Pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT for Salivary Gland Carcinoma With High-Risk Histology.                      
    Cheng NM, Hsieh CE, Liao CT, Ng SH, Wang HM, Fang YD, Chou WC, Lin CY, Yen TC.
    Clin Nucl Med. 2019 May;44(5):351-358. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000002530.
    PMID: 30932974

    Pretreatment Primary Tumor and Nodal SUVmax Values on 18F-FDG PET/CT Images Predict Prognosis in Patients With Salivary Gland Carcinoma.
    Hsieh CE, Cheng NM, Chou WC, Venkatesulu BP, Chou YC, Liao CT, Yen TC, Lin CY.
    Clin Nucl Med. 2018 Dec;43(12):869-879. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000002287.
    PMID:  30273205

    Pretreatment Primary Tumor SUVmax on 18F-FDG PET/CT Images Predicts Outcomes in Patients With Salivary Gland Carcinoma Treated With Definitive Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.
    Hsieh CE, Ho KC, Hsieh CH, Yen TC, Liao CT, Wang HM, Lin CY.
    Clin Nucl Med. 2017 Sep;42(9):655-662. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000001740.
    PMID:  28650891

    let-7 Modulates Chromatin Configuration and Target Gene Repression through Regulation of the ARID3B Complex.
    Liao TT, Hsu WH, Ho CH, Hwang WL, Lan HY, Lo T, Chang CC, Tai SK, Yang MH.
    Cell Rep. 2016 Jan 26;14(3):520-533. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.12.064. Epub 2016 Jan 14.
    PMID:  26776511

    Connective tissue growth factor activates pluripotency genes and mesenchymal-epithelial transition in head and neck cancer cells.
    Chang CC, Hsu WH, Wang CC, Chou CH, Kuo MY, Lin BR, Chen ST, Tai SK, Kuo ML, Yang MH.
    Cancer Res. 2013 Jul 1;73(13):4147-57. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-4085. Epub 2013 May 16. Erratum in: Cancer Res. 2017 Jun 1;77(11):3127.
    PMID:  23687336 

    Localized Treatment with Oncolytic Adenovirus Delta-24-RGDOX Induces Systemic Immunity against Disseminated Subcutaneous and Intracranial Melanomas.
    Jiang H, Shin DH, Nguyen TT, Fueyo J, Fan X, Henry V, Carrillo CC, Yi Y, Alonso MM, Collier TL, Yuan Y, Lang FF, Gomez-Manzano C.
    Clin Cancer Res. 2019 Nov 15;25(22):6801-6814. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-0405. Epub 2019 Aug 27.
    PMID:  31455679

    Qki regulates myelinogenesis through Srebp2-dependent cholesterol biosynthesis.
    Zhou X, Shin S, He C, Zhang Q, Rasband MN, Ren J, Dai C, Zorrilla-Veloz RI, Shingu T, Yuan L, Wang Y, Chen Y, Lan F, Hu J.
    Elife. 2021 May 4;10:e60467. doi: 10.7554/eLife.60467.

Cancer Biology Resources

  • Cancer Biology Bylaws

    Introduction and Mission

    The goal of the Cancer Biology Program is for our basic and clinical faculty to teach graduate students, postdoctoral and clinical fellows concepts of cancer biology and its translation, enabling our trainees to become cancer biology scientists, who can conduct significant, cutting-edge, and hypothesis-driven basic, translational, and clinical research.

    Program Organization

    The administrative organization of the Cancer Biology Program is as follows:

    • The Cancer Biology Program is under the aegis of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, a shared graduate program of the UT Health Science Center in Houston and the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
    • The Cancer Biology Program will be conducted by all members of the Program Faculty. It will elect a Program Director, through whom the Program will be administered in collaboration with the Steering Committee.
    • The Cancer Biology Program is comprised of two separate tracks:
      • Cancer Discovery Track
      • Clinical Translational Oncology Track

    Cancer Biology Program Director

    • The Director of the Program will be appointed to a two-year term by the Dean of the GSBS upon election by the Program Faculty. The Director will be allowed to be elected to serve a second, consecutive term.  The Director will be responsible to the Cancer Biology Graduate Program faculty and the Dean of the GSBS.  The Director will serve on the Program Directors Committee (PDC) of the GSBS.
    • The Director will oversee all administrative activities of the Program. These activities include:
      • Coordinate Activities of the Program Steering, and any other ad hoc Committees as needed.
      • Counsel students.
      • Assist in the coordination of laboratory rotations.
      • Grant an exception to Program course requirements for an individual student in response to a written request from the student.
      • Organize Program faculty meetings.
      • Present applications for membership in the Program.
      • Review Program faculty.

    Cancer Biology Program Co-Directors

    • The Program Co-Directors are appointed to a two-year term by the Dean of the GSBS upon election by the Program faculty.  Consecutive terms for Co-Directors will be allowed.  The Co-Directors must be members of the Cancer Biology Program faculty and are responsible to the Program faculty and the Dean of the GSBS. One Co-Director will be from the Cancer Discovery track, and one Co-Director will be from the Clinical Translational Oncology track.
    • The Co-Director(s) assists with the administrative activities of the Director and conducts business (e.g., approving student forms) in the Director’s absence.  The Co-Director also oversees the administrative activities related to the track that the Co-Director represents.

    Program Steering Committee

    The Director and Co-Director(s) will be advised by a Steering Committee comprised of the Director, Co-Director(s), and a minimum of five other elected faculty members and students.  The faculty members of the Steering Committee will be elected by Program Faculty and serve staggered terms.  Steering committee membership will be for two-year terms.  There is no limit to the number of terms a member may serve.

    The Steering Committee will meet at least semi-annually and there will be a Program-wide faculty meeting semi-annually at which the Steering Committee will present their report and Program business will be conducted with minutes recorded for public dissemination.  The Steering Committee will formulate policies related to the academic and administrative aspects of the Program and present them to the Program faculty for approval or modification.  The Steering Committee will empanel subcommittees to advise on Program matters.

    The Steering Committee is responsible for the following, with input from the Program faculty:

    • Appointing and reviewing Program faculty.
    • Approving changes to the Program curriculum.
    • Approving academic requirements.
    • Overseeing the recruitment, admissions, and academic progress of Cancer Biology Program students.
    • Appointing a Chair each year to coordinate the Annual Program Retreat.
    • Determining the allocation of Program funds.
    • Approving appointments to Program Committees.
    • Organizing ad hoc committees as needed,
    • Distributing a summary of meeting activities in a timely manner.

    Election Process of Program Leaders

    To preserve the integrity and anonymity of the election process, the Graduate School will conduct the elections for Program Director, Co-Directors and Steering Committee Members. GSBS will solicit nominations, including self-nominations, from the Program faculty at-large.  Once the slate of candidates has been approved by the Deans’ Office, GSBS will conduct the election and report the results of the election to the Program community.

    GSBS will also conduct the election of the two student members of the Steering Committee. GSBS will solicit volunteers from Program students.  To be eligible to serve, students must be in good academic standing, and it is recommended but not required that candidates have completed the candidacy exam.  Once the slate of volunteers has been approved by the Program Director and the Deans’ Office, GSBS will conduct the election and report the results to the Program community.

    Faculty Program Membership

    The Cancer Biology Program welcomes enthusiastic faculty who are dedicated to student education and have vigorous and well-funded research programs.  Program faculty must be members of the GSBS. Program faculty will include Regular Members, Associate Members and Distinguished Senior Lecturers as determined by the GSBS Membership Committee.

    Cancer Biology Program faculty will: 

    • Participate in the formulation of Program policies
    • Train and mentor students
    • Serve on student committees
    • Organize and lecture in Program courses
    • Make changes to these bylaws by majority vote. The faculty must receive notice of the proposed changes at least ten business days prior to the vote. The method of voting will follow GSBS guidelines
    • Participate in Program Retreats
    • Attend Program Faculty meetings to discuss issues relevant to the Cancer Biology Program

    Applications for membership in the Cancer Biology Program are submitted to the Program Coordinator and are reviewed by the Cancer Biology Program Steering Committee.  In addition to the applicant’s CV and NIH biosketch, applications should include a letter stating the applicant’s reasons for requesting to join the Program. This letter should identify what the applicant expects to gain from being a Program faculty and what the applicant can contribute to the Program.  This letter should clearly outline 1) current projects of interest in lab as they pertain to cancer biology; 2) teaching experience; 3) mentoring experience.

    Criteria for membership include, but are not limited to: 

    • Scientific independence
    • Active and funded research projects in an area relevant to the Cancer Biology Program mission
    • A willingness to participate in Program activities and assume the responsibilities of Program faculty as outlined above
    • Prefer tenure-track
    • Prefer at least one independent external course of peer-reviewed funding
    • Strong interest in cancer biology research, teaching and mentoring

    Faculty who apply for Program membership but are denied may appeal the decision to the GSBS Membership Committee, who will make a recommendation to the Deans.

    The Cancer Biology Program will notify GSBS Faculty Affairs of all new Program faculty members.

    Review of Current Faculty Members

    The Cancer Biology Program will review participation by individual faculty members once every five years in conjunction with the faculty member’s five-year review by the GSBS Membership Committee. 

    The five-year review by the Program will be done on a schedule determined by the Program. Scoring metrics shall be used to determine membership.  The criteria will be based on a faculty member’s evidence of engagement in graduate education using the GSBS Membership Committee criteria as a guideline.  Faculty participation reports will be provided by GSBS but should be augmented by reports/statements of the Program-specific activities.

    The Co-Directors may discuss ways to improve participation with any faculty members who are marginally involved with the Program’s activities.  The Program will send GSBS a list of faculty they suggest are inactive.  Inactive faculty will be notified that they are on probation for an additional year.  At the end of this time, if there is no increase in activity, the Program may terminate membership.  Faculty who are asked to leave the Program or who apply for Program membership in later years but are denied may appeal the decision to the GSBS Membership Committee, who will make a recommendation to the Deans.  Faculty determined to be disengaged are subject to not being reappointed to GSBS.  Being a Program faculty member should involve a significant investment of time and energy.  To avoid dilution of this effort, faculty members may affiliate with a maximum of two Programs.

    The Program will notify GSBS Faculty Affairs of any terminated faculty members.

  • Program Leadership

    Cancer Biology Program Leadership Fall 2022-Spring 2023

    Program Director

    Dr. Jian Hu

    Program Co-Directors

    Dr. Honami Naora
    Dr. Cassian Yee

    Steering Committee

    Dr. Simona Calla 
    Dr. Yejing Ge
    Dr. Scott Kopetz
    Dr. Nami McCarty
    Dr. Haoqiang Ying
    Tanvi Visal (student member)
    Oscar Villareal (student member)

    Student Council

    Tanvi Visal (student member of CB Program Steering Committee)
    Oscar Villareal (student member of CB Program Steering Committee)
    Jeson Li, Council Co-Chair and Social Media Chair
    Lisa Huang, Council Co-Chair
    Kaylene Lu, Retreat Co-Chair (incoming)
    Sharvari Dharmaiah, Retreat Co-Chair (outgoing)
    Pahul Hanjra, Flyers Chair                                                                                                                                                                                              Emine Bayraktar, Student Seminar Chair

Cancer Biology Spotlight

Students from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences selected Jian Hu, PhD, as the recipient of the 2019 John P. McGovern Award for Outstanding Teaching.

Hu is an assistant professor in the Department of Cancer Biology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. He has been a faculty member at the Graduate School since 2014 and he is affiliated with the GSBS Programs in Cancer Biology and Neuroscience.

His current research focuses on glioblastoma, the most common type of brain tumor, and a regulatory protein called Quaking (QKI) as a glioma suppressor. Hu’s lab has been interested in a special type of glioblastoma cells called glioma stem cells, which possess an inexhaustible ability to self-renew and produce tumors that resemble the features of original tumors. His lab has recently discovered a new mechanism through which glioma stem cells maintain their stem cell features during invasion and migration. Targeting the genes involved in this mechanism may lead to novel therapeutic opportunities for this deadly disease.

"I am honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award recognized by our students,” said Hu. “Teaching and mentoring have always been my passion. To me, teaching is never about telling students facts; instead, it is about inspiring students to think independently, critically, and deeply. I always urge the students in my class and my lab to challenge and question what they have been told as dogmas. It is really encouraging to me that our students like my style of teaching."

He received this award at the GSBS Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 18.

cancer-biology-spotlight-photo

Cancer Biology Social Media

Cancer Biology Contact Us Photo

Contact Us

Hu-Jian

Jian Hu, PhD

Director, Graduate Program in Cancer Biology
Telephone: 713.794.5238
email: [email protected]

Naora

Honami Naora, PhD

Co-Director, Graduate Program in Cancer Biology - Cancer Discovery Track
Telephone: 713.563.4222
email: [email protected]

Yee-103015

Cassian Yee, MD

Co-Director, Graduate Program in Cancer Biology - Clinical Translational Oncology Track
Telephone: 713.563.3750
email: [email protected]

Wolf-Taylor_Dawn Dawn Wolf-Taylor

Program Coordinator
GSBS Office - BSRB S3.8332a
Telephone: 713.745.0682
email: dawn.m.wolftaylor@uth.tmc.edu