Welcome to the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. We are one of six basic science departments at M. D. Anderson dedicated to advancing our knowledge of the processes that regulate cell growth, survival and differentiation at the molecular level. The research activities in the department are centered on three general themes: nuclear function, cell regulation and embryo development. Our research employs a variety of technical approaches and experimental systems that represent the latest advances in biomedical science. We make use of a number of genetically important model organisms including Drosophila, mice, yeast and bacteria. We also have state-of-the-art facilities for structural biology, chromatin remodeling, Drosophila genetics, embryonic stem cells and genetically engineered mice, confocal microscopy and a host of other resources readily available to all our researchers. Our underlying rationale is that a deep understanding of cancer and many other diseases can only be achieved by addressing the basic mechanistic features associated with normal cells and tissues.

The department currently occupies about 30,000 square feet of modern new laboratory space in the George and Cynthia Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building, which opened its doors in April 2005. Department faculty members have ample laboratory and office space and unlimited opportunities for their research teams to advance their projects. Grants to department faculty through both government and private agencies exceed $4.5 million in annual direct costs.

Our department devotes substantial effort towards training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Our NIH training grant in differentiation and development supports several outstanding pre- and postdoctoral trainees. As members of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Genes and Development Graduate Training Program, our trainees are offered a variety of courses in biochemistry, molecular biology, developmental biology, cancer biology and genetics. Students and postdocs participate in numerous departmental and program activities such as journal clubs, research seminars, invited speaker lecture series and our annual Genes and Development Program retreat.

As a basic science department in a world-renowned cancer center, we are strong advocates for a continued commitment to fundamental research in biology. At the same time, we actively encourage and nurture productive interactions with translational and clinical researchers in the hope that our basic discoveries will eventually lead to clinical applications. I believe that you will find the following pages describing our department’s research and other activities interesting and informative. Please feel free to contact me with questions or comments.

William Klein, Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman
Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Chemistry