Students
Current Students
Midan Ai
Email: midanai@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Zhan Fan, M.D.
GSBS Start Date: 2007
Research Focus: Breast tumor kinase (Brk) is a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase that is highly expressed in breast cancers. Co-overexpression of Brk and HER2 are frequently observed in breast cancer patients. Midan's research interests focus on determining the biological link and clinical significance between Brk and HER2 and their downstream substrates with respect to breast cancer tumorigenesis and to development of resistance to HER2-targeted therapy.
Education:
- B.S. in Biology from Lanzhou University, China, 2001
- M.S. in Biology from Central South University, China, 2004
Bharat K. Chaganty
Email: brchaganty@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Zhen Fan, M.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2011
Research Focus: Antibody engineering and mechanism of action of multi-targeted antibodies.
Education:
- M.S. in Biotechnology from The University of Texas, San Antonio, 2009
Lu Chen
Email: lu.chen@uth.tmc.edu
Advisor: Shuxing Zhang, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2009
Research Focus: Computer-aided drug design against various molecular targets, QSAR modeling and molecular dynamics simulation.
Education:
- B.S. in Biological Sciences from Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 2005
Tiewei (Leo) Cheng
Email: tiewei.cheng@uth.tmc.edu
Advisor: David J. McConkey, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2008
Research Focus: Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) comprise a subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that are master regulators of a broad spectrum of cellular and developmental processes, including apoptosis, proliferaton, migration and angiogenesis. Leo is interested in the role of FGFR inhibitors in cancer therapy and how they apply to various in vitro and in vivo ways to elucidate efficiency and mechanisms involved in FGFR inhibitors.
Education:
- M.D. from Wenzhou Medical College, Zhejiang, China, 2005
- M.S. from Fudan University Medical School, Shanghai, China, 2008
Pooja Dhupkar
Email: pooja.m.dhupkar@uth.tmc.edu
Advisor: Zhiqiang An, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2010
Research Focus: Our laboratory studies drug resistance mechanisms involving the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER/ErbB) signaling pathways. Particularly, we study therapeutic antibodies as a platform technology. Pooja's project focuses on the role of proteases, like matrix metalloproteinases, in the tumor microenvironment for the tumor resistance to antibodies.
Education:
- B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from University of Mumbai, 2005
- M.S. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from University of Sciences in Philadelphia, PA, 2008
Rebecca Dunbar Schroeder
Email: rldunbar@mdanderson.org
Advisor:
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2011
Research Focus: Genetic mutations in the tumor suppressor gene NF2 in relation to cancers not commonly associated with hereditary neurofibromatosis 2 and the resulting functional consequence to the protein product merlin.
Education:
- B.S. in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 2008
Kshipra M. Gharpure
Email: kmgharpure@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Anil K. Sood, M.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2011
Research Focus: The amount of residual cancer after a primary debulking surgery in ovarian cancer patients is highly related to the patients' outcome. Kshipra's project focuses on identifying key molecules that are related to the development of residual disease in cancer patients.
Education:
- B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
- M.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Buffalo, New York
Geoffrey Grandjean
Email: gvgrandj@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Garth Powis, D.Phil.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2011
Research Focus: In oncology, the Warburg effect is the observation that most cancer cell energy production is achieved by employing a high rate of glycolysis followed by lactic acid fermentation in the cytoplasm rather than the mechanism of oxidative phosphorylation observed in normal cells' mitochondria. Geoffrey is interested in identifying novel pharmacological probes targeting this energy production as a means of blocking cancer cell metabolism.
Education:
- B.S. in Biomedical Laboratory Operations from Michigan State University, 2007
Nathan Ihle
Email: ntihle@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Garth Powis, D.Phil.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2010
Research Focus: The KRas oncogene is known to mediate cancer growth and survival and predicts resistance to current therapies. Nathan's research focuses on how this oncogene activates multiple signaling cascades responsible for tumor growth. Additionally, agents targeting KRas signaling are being investigated.
Education:
- B.S. in Environmental Biology from the University of Arizona
Haiquan Lu
Email: hlu3@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Zhen Fan, M.D.
GSBS Start Date: 2008
Research Focus: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) plays a key role in regulating cancer metabolism through activating glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes, leading to the activation of glycolysis and inhibition of oxidative phorphorylation in cancer (the Warburg Effect). Downregulation of HIF-1 is required for the antitumor role or cetuximab, an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody. My research is focused on the metabolic role of HIF-1 in EGFR-targeted therapy in head and neck cancer.
Education:
- B.S. in Biological Sciences from Shandong Normal University, China, 2006
- M.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Fordham University, New York, 2008
Michelle Martinez-Rivera
Email: mmartinez7@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Zahid H. Siddik, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2010
Research Focus: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy in the United States. Since it is diagnosed late into its development, the five-year survival rate after diagnosis is less than 30%. The current therapeutic regimen for advanced ovarian carcinoma consists of cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with Taxol. Despite initial therapeutic response to platinum-based compounds, clinical resistance to these drugs emerges leading to disease progression. Platinum-resistant phenotypes have been associated with dysfunction of the p53 signaling pathway. This protein normally facilitates favorable antitumoral drug response through a variety of key cellular functions, such as cell cycle arrest, senescence and apoptosis. In order to contribute to a better understanding of platinum resistance, Michelle's research project focuses on the determination of the molecular mechanisms driving cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancers harboring wild-type p53 and in the synthesis of non-cross resistant platinum analogs to circumvent such resistance.
Education:
- B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, 2010
Madonna McManus
Email: madonna.mcmanus@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Dennis P.M. Hughes, M.D., Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2010
Research Focus: Understanding the role of Notch signaling in osteosarcoma.
Education:
- B.S. in Biochemistry from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, 2009
John Morrow
Email: john.k.morrow@uth.tmc.edu
Advisor: Shuxing Zhang, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2009
Research Focus: Rational/computational design of cancer therapeutics, which includes druggability evaluation, molecular docking and ADME-Toxicology in silico predictions. John also is interested in polypharmacology and molecular networks.
Education:
- B.S. in Molecular Toxicology from the University of California at Berkeley, 2005
- M.S. in Experimental Therapeutics from The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, 2011
Seema Mukherjee
Email: smukherjee1@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Zhiqiang An, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: 2010
Research Focus: Seema's research involves development of new therapeutics that target the ErBb receptors in breast and ovarian cancers.
Education:
- B.S. in Life Sciences from University of Delhi, India, 2005
- M.S. in Biochemistry from Rajasthan University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, 2007
- M.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Clarkson University, Postdam, New York, 2008
Andrea E. Ochoa
Email: aeochoa@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Fredika M. Robertson, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2011
Research Focus: Therapeutic effects of Hsp90 inhibitors as single agents and, in combination, in inflammatory breast cancer.
Education:
- B.S. in Bioinformatics from St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas, 2011
Viralkumar Patel
Email: viralkumar.m.patel@uth.tmc.edu
Advisor: Varsha Gandhi, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2009
Research Focus: Study of transcriptional and translational modification in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells due to their interaction with marrow stromal environment.
Education:
- B.S. in Pharmacy from Anand University College, India
- M.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Grand Valley State University, Michigan
Shubhchintan Randhawa
Email: srandhawa@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Kapil Mehta, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Summer 2010
Research Focus: The role of Transglutaminase 2 in breast cancer development.
Education:
- B.Sc. (Honors) in Biotechnology from University of Hertfordshire, UK, 2008
- M.Sc. in Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology from University of Liecester, UK, 2009
Kausar Begam Riaz Ahmed
Email: kriaz@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Peng Huang, M.D., Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2008
Research Focus: Malignant metastatic melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer death in the U.S. Kausar is primarily interested in characterizing the drivers of melanoma progression and developing therapies against them. She is working to identify the mechanism of action of a naturally occurring anticancer agent, OSW-1, in melanoma. Her main focus is to identify the molecular targets of OSW-1 and use this information to further enhance the current understanding of melanoma biology.
Education:
- B.Tech. in Industrial Biotechnology from Anna University, 2006
- M.S. in Biotechnology from University of Utah, 2008
Nilsa Rivera-Del Valle
Email: nrivera@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Joya Chandra, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: 2007
Research Focus: Nilsa’s broad research interest is in the treatment of hematological malignancies. The major goal of her research is to understand the mechanism of action of combinatory therapy; especially how oxidative stress might enhance the efficacy of biologically targeted agents. Understanding how combinatory therapies work could be used for the development of more effective clinical trials.
Education:
- B.S. in Microbiology from Inter American University of Puerto Rico, 2001
- M.S. in Toxicology from The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, 2007
Maitri Shah
Email: maitri.y.shah@uth.tmc.edu
Advisor: George A. Calin, M.D., Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2010
Research Focus: MicroRNAs and other non-coding RNAs play an important role in cancer initiation and progression. Maitri is interested in elucidating the role of long, non-coding RNAs in cancer initiation and identifying novel approaches to target these RNAs.
Education:
- B.Pharm. from Mumbai University Institute of Chemical Techology, India, 2008
- M.S. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from East Carolina University, N.C., 2010
Sheng Sun
Email: ssun1@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Jian Kuang, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2010
Research Focus: Sheng is focused on understanding the functions and regulations of a multifunctional scaffold protein called Alix, which is critically involved in endosomal sorting, retroviral budding, cytokinesis, apoptosis, actin cytoskeleton assembly, cell adhesion and extracellular matrix assembly. We also study the functions and regulations of Alix-related protein HD-PTP for its malignancy-inhibitory role.
Education:
- B.S. in Biology from Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China, 2007
- M.S. in Cell Biology from Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China, 2010
Thuy Vu
Email: ttvu@mdanderson.org; thuy.t.vu@uth.tmc.edu
Advisor: Francois-Xavier Claret, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2009
Research Focus: The c-Jun coactivator JAB1 is a novel oncogene which has been found to aberrantly express in the progression of human breast cancer and contribute to trastuzumab resistance in Her2 positive cancer patients. Thuy's focus is on the mechanism of JAB1 gene expression and its deregulation in cancer cells to develop a new approach for targeted cancer therapy.
Education:
- B.S. in Biotechnology from Vietnam National University at Ho Chi Minh City, 2008
Matt White
Email: mcwhite@mdanderson.org
Advisor: David J. McConkey, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2007
Research Focus: Proteasome inhibitors are a potent class of chemotherapeutic agents designed to specifically target the cell's protein degradation machinery. Matt is interested in better understanding the mechanisms governing cellular response to proteasome inhibition and identifying factors that may help predict drug sensitivity or resistance in pancreatic cancer models.
Education:
- B.S. in Molecular & Cell Biology from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 2007
Qingshan (Carly) Yang
Email: qingshan.yang@uth.tmc.edu; qyang2@mdanderson.org
Advisor: Varsha Gandhi, Ph.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2009
Research Focus: Carly is investigating Pim kinase function and the therapeutic effects of its inhibitor in lymphoma. She is interested in Pim kinase driving mechanisms in hemetological cancers and identifying novel approaches to target lymphoma.
Education:
- B.A. in Biochemistry from Ohio Weslayan University, Delaware, Ohio, 2009
Xue Zhang
Email: xue.zhang@uth.tmc.edu
Advisor: Judith A. Smith, Pharm.D.
GSBS Start Date: Fall 2009
Research Focus: Phytoestrogens become more and more popular in current clinical applications, e.g. cancer prevention and hormone replacement therapy. Xue's research focuses on the impact of phytoestrogens on estrogen-mediated cancers, specifically, estrogen-receptor interaction, cell cycle regulation, tumor growth and metastasis. Since lay press and preliminary data show quite conflictive results, this deep investigation on mechanisms of phytoestrogens action will address important clinical evidences and implications for use in cancer.
Education:
- B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, P.R. China
- M.S. in Biological Science from The University of Texas at San Antonio
Program Graduates
Han, Amy
Morrow, John K. (M.S.)
Plummer, Joshue (M.S.)