The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center at Houston
Department of Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis

My research explores how chromatin-modifying enzymes and epigenetic mechanisms control cell fate decisions and how their disruption drives cancer development. Epigenetic modifications—such as histone acetylation, ubiquitination, and DNA methylation—shape gene expression programs that govern development, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis. When these processes go awry, cells can adopt pathological states, leading to cancer, neurodegeneration, and other diseases.

A key focus of my work is the conserved SAGA complex, a modular transcriptional co-regulator that coordinates Gcn5 acetyltransferase and Usp22 deubiquitinase activities to control gene expression. While SAGA’s functions are well-characterized in yeast, flies, and cultured cells, its roles in complex tissues and disease contexts remain poorly understood. Notably, USP22 is part of a cancer stem cell-associated gene signature in therapy-resistant tumors and also contributes to cerebellar neurodegeneration in SCA7, underscoring its context-specific impact on chromatin-modifying enzyme-dependent processes.

I leverage genetically engineered mouse models, in vitro differentiation systems, and genome-wide epigenomic profiling to dissect how chromatin-modifying enzymes regulate development and disease. Building on this foundation, in my current position I focus on bladder cancer, investigating how mutations in chromatin-modifying enzymes alter urothelial differentiation and immune surveillance. By integrating chromatin profiling, functional immune assays, and in vivo models, my research defines how aberrant chromatin-modifying enzyme activity reshapes tumor–immune interactions and therapeutic response. I am supported by outstanding institutional resources and multidisciplinary collaborations that enable the rigorous execution of this research. Collectively, my work is positioned at the intersection of chromatin biology, developmental regulation, and cancer biology, with the long-term goal of defining epigenetic mechanisms that can be leveraged for therapeutic intervention.

PubMed

MDACC Faculty

Education & Training

PhD, University of Crete in Heraklion, 2006