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Therapeutics & Pharmacology

The discovery, development and application of therapeutics is a rapidly growing field that includes disease biology, identification of novel molecular targets, molecular modeling, chemistry to synthesize and identify small molecule inhibitors, drug design and understanding metabolic pathways — and that’s just for starters.

Welcome to TAP

The discovery, development and translation of therapeutics is crucial for the advancement of clinical practice. Excitingly, innovative therapeutic strategies continue to emerge as the era of precision medicine becomes a clinical reality and we, the Therapeutics and Pharmacology (TAP) Program at the MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, are proud to be at the forefront of expanding the boundaries of therapeutic knowledge.

Our mission is to serve as a network for scientists-in-training that promotes the communication, application and translation of emerging concepts that fall under the broad spectrum of therapeutics. These concepts include (i) exploiting vulnerabilities in cancer biology, (ii) modulating/disrupting  genetic & epigenetic mechanisms, (iii) developing immunotherapies, (iv) applying computational and medicinal chemistry strategies for rational drug design, (v) harnessing nuclear medicine for drug development – to name a few. Our program is uniquely designed to potentiate students from a variety of backgrounds with diverse career goals that are interested in translational research. As a result, our students and faculty are particularly focused on taking discoveries across all areas of the basic sciences from “bench-to-bedside.” To achieve this, our students receive a solid background in the principles and mechanisms of therapeutics along with hands-on training in the laboratory of their choice. Importantly, TAP is designed to center around the objectives of the trainee by allowing coursework customization and facilitating access to industry internships.

Overall, we are a tight-knit community with student-led initiatives to socialize and collaborate with peers and scholars across a wide variety of disciplines. Furthermore, we provide students valuable resources for professional development and finding careers in their desired fields. With our unique emphasis on translational research, we train students to be prime candidates for positions within academia, government, pharmaceutical industries, and intellectual property protection. The benefits of our training platform are reflected in our proud alumni who have gone on to pursue successful careers in sectors ranging from biotechnology to regulatory affairs.

Scientist in lab coat and gloves transfers liquid with a pipette into a test tube at a bench, surrounded by racks of tubes and glassware; image tinted in blue.

Events, Awards, and Leadership

  • Events

    Nibbles & Knowledge

    The TAP Program hosts student driven and organized gatherings throughout the year that allow students the opportunity to meet and connect though various activities that include research presentations, talks by faculty and industry professionals, mock candidacy exams, and more.  

    TAP Career Symposium

    This annual day-long spring event focuses on the varied career paths available to TAP students with panels and presentations from industry and academic leaders in the field, including TAP alumni. 

    Fall TAP Retreat

    The annual fall TAP Retreat is held at an outside venue, with past locations that have included St. Arnold's Brewery and Karbach Brewing Company, and features a poster and oral presentation competition, a keynote speaker chosen by the students and much more in a day of fun and fellowship.

    For more information on the above events, contact Dawn Wolf-Taylor at [email protected].

  • Distinguished Lecture Series in Experimental Therapeutics

    Students are encouraged to attend the monthly faculty seminar series sponsored by the Department of Experimental Therapeutics. For more information regarding the seminar series, contact Grace Taupo at [email protected].  

  • TAP Travel Award

    The TAP program offers travel awards of up to $750 to defray student expenses for presenting posters or talks at conferences or for travel to attend outside courses. TAP program primary students are eligible to apply.

    TAP Travel Award Application 

  • TAP Program Steering Committee
    Ali Azhdarinia, TAP Program Director 2023-2026
    Chandra Bartholomeusz 2023-2026
    Kendra Carmon 2023-2026
    Bisrat Debeb 2024-2027
    Sunil Krishnan, TAP Program Co-Director 2023-2026
    Vihang Narkar 2025.2028
    Federica Pisaneschi 2024-2027
    Deepa Sampath 2023-2026
    Bhoomika Muruvekere Lakshmisha student representative through August 31, 2026

     

  • TAP Student Council Members
    Anna DeBruine Outgoing Co-Chair
    Gabrielle Krouse Incoming Co-Chair
    Tyler Bateman Retreat Coordinator
    Diego Antelo Events Coordinator
    Yueh-Ming (Camellia) Shyu Recruitment Coordinator
    Kevin Bowman Nibbles & Knowledge Coordinator
    Jack Adams Communication Coordinator

News

Anna DeBruine at conference in Italy

Therapeutics and Pharmacology student Anna DeBruine recognized at Italy conference for outstanding work in cancer cachexia research

Therapeutics and Pharmacology student Anna DeBruine was honored with the Women in Cachexia Student Spotlight Award at the 8th Cancer Cachexia Conference in Turin, Italy, for her poster on estrogen-related...
October 14, 2025
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left to right: Morgan Riba, Gemalene Sunga, Brandy Walker, Tray Waldrop

T32 Trainees shine at ACTS Conference in Washington, D.C.

We are proud of our T32 Clinical and Translational Sciences Training Program trainees for their outstanding contributions and leadership throughout the 2025 Association for Clinical and Translational Science...
April 24, 2025
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Anna DeBruine and Vihang Narkar, PhD

Therapeutics & Pharmacology student Anna DeBruine awarded pre-doctoral cancer prevention fellowship

Therapeutics & Pharmacology PhD student Anna DeBruine will use the support from her pre-doctoral fellowship in the UTHealth Innovation in Cancer Prevention Research Training Program to support her ...
March 11, 2025
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TL1 trainees attend ACTS Translational Science 2024

TL1 trainees attend ACTS Translational Science 2024

Six trainees with the Predoctoral & Postdoctoral Training in Clinical & Translational Sciences at UTHealth Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center (TL1) participated in the Association of Clinical...
May 1, 2024
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Four GSBS students 2022 UTHealthLeads fellows

4 GSBS students named 2022 UTHealthLeads fellows

UTHealthLeads is a one-year student fellowship program to develop future leaders in health care. In the program, UTHealth Houston students learn how to develop self-awareness, increase their leadership...
December 6, 2022
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Contact Us

Headshot of Ali Azhdarinia, PhD

Ali Azhdarinia, PhD
TAP Program Director
Associate Professor, Center for Translational Cancer Research
Institute of Molecular Medicine
McGovern Medical School
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Tel: 713-500-3577
Email: [email protected]
Office: South Campus Research Building 3/4, 3scr6.4676
Headshot of Sunil Krishnan, MD

Sunil Krishnan, MD
TAP Program Co-Director
Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
McGovern Medical School
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Phone: 713-202-8063
Email: [email protected]
Office: South Campus Research Building 3/4, 3scr6.4680
Headshot of Dawn Wolf-Taylor, MA

Dawn Wolf-Taylor, MA
TAP Program Coordinator
Phone: 713-745-0682
Email: [email protected]
Office: BSRB S3.8332a

TAP Program Bylaws