Trainee Spotlight

Dr. Ben-Schmuel completed his B.Sc. in biotechnology from Bar-Ilan University in Israel in 2014. He subsequently completed my MS.c (2016) and Ph.D (2021) degrees in Bar-Ilan University focusing on the molecular mechanisms regulating the inhibitory and activating effector activities of natural killer (NK) cells in the context of cancer. From 2021-2024 Dr. Ben-Schmuel conducted research as a postdoctoral fellow at the Weizmann Institute of Science under the supervision of Prof. Ruth Scherz-Shouval. At Weizmann, he studied the tumor microenvironment, with a focus on cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in pancreatic and breast cancers, and how they promote tumor growth while subverting anti-tumor immunity- This work was supported by the Weizmann Deans of the Faculties postdoctoral fellowship and the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) postdoctoral fellowship. 

Dr. Ben-Shmuel's Research Interests:
Dr. Ben-Schmuel is interested in the molecular mechanisms rewired in cancer cells that shape the tumor microenvironment, and thus promote escape from a myriad of therapies, including immune-therapies. In the DePinho lab, he will focus on colon and pancreatic cancer (notoriously resistant to immunotherapies), and use genetically modified mouse models to understand which genetic alterations in cancer cells orchestrate an environment that is permissive to tumor development and therapy resistance, and the underlying mechanisms coordinating these events. 

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Ben-Shmuel is currently mentor funded.

Dr. Bekker earned her B.S. in Pure Mathematics and M.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She earned her Ph.D. in Integrated Mathematical Oncology from the joint program between Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida. During her doctoral work, Rebecca used mathematical modeling to investigate the effects of radiotherapy on the tumor-immune micro-environment and showed that spatial fractionation of the radiation beam can induce and protect a local anti-tumor immune response. Dr. Bekker joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow in October 2025.

Dr. Bekker's Research Interests:
Approximately 80% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) develop liver metastases (LM), which significantly reduces their 5-year overall survival rate (16.9% versus 70.4% for CRC patients without LM). Although the number of available liver-directed therapies (LDTs) continues to grow, recurrence following treatment remains common and contributes substantially to cancer-related mortality. My research focuses on developing image-based, patient-specific digital twins that predict whether an individual patient will recur following LDT, when recurrence is likely to occur, and where it will develop. These predictions could enable personalized treatment selection and optimization, helping prevent recurrence when possible or delay disease progression when prevention is not achievable.

National Interest: This work addresses a major public health challenge in the United States by enabling more precise and effective treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Predictive digital twins could help clinicians select the most appropriate therapies for each patient, improving survival and quality of life while reducing the cost and burden of ineffective treatments and recurrent disease. Beyond its clinical impact, this research advances U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and precision medicine by translating cutting-edge computational technologies into practical tools for patient care.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Bekker is currently supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

Dr. Bohat has completed her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Houston under the guidance of Dr. Weiyi Peng. Her research focused on targeting the PI3K isoforms to enhance the effectiveness of T-cell-mediated immunotherapy. Her work revealed that the PI3Kα isoform is crucial for tumor cells but not as essential for T cells. By inhibiting this tumor-specific isoform, the efficacy of immunotherapy was significantly improved. This breakthrough offers a deeper understanding of the PI3K pathway in both tumor and immune cells, proposing a novel therapeutic approach to cancer treatment, which is now advancing towards clinical trials.In recognition of her outstanding research and exemplary dissertation, Ritu was awarded the prestigious Dan E. Wells Outstanding Dissertation Award at the University of Houston, an honor given to only one student each semester. Additionally, Ritu has contributed to the development of a lupus mouse model, providing researchers with a valuable tool to explore the complexities of this autoimmune disorder and potentially advance therapeutic solutions.

Dr. Bohat's Research Interests:
Dr. Bohat’s research interests lie in understanding the tumor factors that contribute to the development of resistance against anti-tumor immune responses, particularly in solid tumors. At the Rezvani lab, she will focus on enhancing the efficacy of CAR-NK cells in treating solid tumors. While CAR-NK cells have shown promising results in hematological malignancies, their effectiveness is often hindered by the tumor microenvironment in solid tumors. Ritu aims to develop strategies to improve the persistence and efficacy of CAR-NK cells in these challenging environments.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Bohat is currently supported by her awarded T32 Fellowship.

Dr. Ying Chen earned her B.S. in Chemistry from Southern University of Science and Technology. She then completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry at Rice University under the mentorship of Prof. Angel Martí. During her doctoral work, Dr. Chen designed and characterized light-activated metal complex surfactants for photodynamic therapy and developed self-assembling amphiphilic metallosurfactants that enable aqueous photocatalytic transformations relevant to drug discovery. Her research integrated synthetic chemistry, photophysics, and cell-based mechanistic studies to understand how molecular design influences therapeutic selectivity and biological responses. Ying joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow in October 2025.

Dr. Chen's Research Interests:
Dr. Chen’s research focuses on developing targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies and combination treatment strategies for cancer. Her work aims to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of targeted radiation and overcome treatment resistance through rational combination approaches. By integrating radiochemistry, targeted radiopharmaceutical development, and preclinical evaluation, her research seeks to advance novel radiopharmaceutical therapies toward clinical translation

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Ying Chen is currently supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

From the Peruvian Andes, Dr. Flores Suarez earned his B.S. in Biology from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru.  He then earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics from Baylor College of Medicine under the guidance of Dr. Joshua Wythe. His graduate thesis was titled “Identifying novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in KRAS-driven sporadic brain arteriovenous malformations” and was supported by the American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Flores Suarez joined the TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in March 2024. 

Dr. Flores Suarez's Research Interests:
Dr. Flores Suarez's current projects aim to investigate the role of SIK2 inhibitors to enhance immunotherapy in breast cancer; and to optimize the design and delivery of DIRAS3 stapled peptides in order to enhance their stability, cellular uptake, and anti-cancer efficacy in RAS-derived cancers.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Flores Suarez is currently mentor funded.

Dr. Hayashi earned his M.D. from the Osaka City University School of Medicine in March 2014, and completed his Ph.D. at the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University in April 2022 under the mentorship of Dr. Masayuki Hino. During his doctoral training, he engaged in both basic and clinical research, including a pivotal project investigating the gut microbiome in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Dr. Hayashi joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow in April 2026.

Dr. Hayashi's Research Interests:
Dr. Hayashi is conducting research to investigate ultra conserved elements (UCE)-regulated microRNA (miRNA) networks and intercellular communication in hematologic diseases. MiRNAs are central post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression and immune function. Importantly, emerging studies in solid tumors and lymphoid malignancies, including colorectal cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, have identified UCEs—genomic elements that are 100% conserved across human, mouse, and rat—as critical upstream regulators of miRNA expression networks. Specific UCEs have been shown to modulate tumor progression and immune signaling by acting as enhancers of tumor suppressors and silencers of oncogenic proteins. Some UCEs shape miRNA transcriptional programs and downstream immune-related signaling pathways, thereby influencing tumor progression and immune escape. Our central hypothesis is that treatment-resistant hematologic diseases are driven by dysregulated miRNA networks that are epigenetically and transcriptionally controlled by UCEs.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Hayashi is currently supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

Dr. Iqbal earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from New York University Abu Dhabi, where his research focused on microdevices for cardiovascular disease. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Houston, under the mentorship of Dr. Sergey Shevkoplyas. During his doctoral work, Dr. Iqbal collaborated with researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital to develop microfluidic devices that could safely perform leukapheresis in pediatric leukemia patients. He also investigated the use of microfluidic cell isolation to improve CAR T cell therapy manufacturing. Dr. Iqbal joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow in September 2025.

Dr. Iqbal's Research Interests:
Dr. Iqbal's research focuses on developing microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip models for pre-clinical evaluation of T-cell based therapies for solid tumors. He is particularly interested in studying the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts and dysfunctional vasculature in the lung adenocarcinoma microenvironment and their effects on TCR-T infiltration. By developing robust in vitro models, he hopes to improve and accelerate the pre-clinical development of T cell therapies.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Iqbal is supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

Dr. Kim earned his B.A. in Behavioral Biology from Johns Hopkins University, followed by an M.S. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from the University of Minnesota in collaboration with Mayo Clinic. He then completed his Ph.D. through the Tri-Institutional Computational Biology and Medicine program, conducting research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His dissertation, titled "Evolutionary and functional consequences of single-cell variation in mitochondrial DNA copy number and genotype in cancer," provided new insights into factors contributing to the heterogeneity in mitochondrial DNA copy number distribution and how its variation across tumor subclones corresponded with distinct immune response and metabolic activity, as revealed through transcriptomics. Dr. Kim joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow in October 2024.

Dr. Kim's Research Interests:
Dr. Kim focuses on how genomic instability drives the emergence and evolution of breast cancer. By using multi-modal single-cell data to identify cell populations harboring genomic alterations and to map early evolutionary trajectories, he aims to develop computational risk prediction models that enable earlier detection and intervention strategies.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Kim is supported by a Damon Runyon Fellowship.

Dr. Kumar's doctoral research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate pancreatic cancer stemness, with a particular emphasis on the serotonin transporter SLC22A3/OCT3 and its role in serotonin-mediated epigenetic reprogramming and tumor progression. Her work combined molecular biology, patient-derived organoids, animal models, and translational approaches to identify novel therapeutic targets for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Her long-term goal is to advance biomedical research by targeting fundamental mechanisms of human disease and translating these discoveries into innovative therapeutic strategies that improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Kumar is supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

Dr. Yoonkyu Lee earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He later completed an M.S. in Stem Cell Biology and a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. During his Ph.D. training, he was mentored by Dr. Zohar Sachs and Dr. Chad L. Myers. His dissertation, titled "Advanced Gene Expression Analysis Reveals Novel Biology in Acute Myeloid Leukemia," provided new insights into TP53 mutated (TP53Mut) AML through transcriptomic profiling and also led the development of a novel computational tool for identifying leukemia stem cells (LSCs) using single cell gene expression data.

Dr. Lee's Research Interests:
Dr. Lee's research focuses on therapy resistance and relapse in TP53-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with particular emphasis on how TP53 mutations alter leukemia stem cell biology and reshape the immune microenvironment. By integrating single-cell multiomics and advanced computational approaches, he aims to uncover the mechanisms driving therapy resistance and to identify novel therapeutic strategies

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Lee is supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

From Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Dr. Lynch earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. His graduate thesis, titled "Quantifying Chromosomal Instability in Cancer: from first principles toward clinical value", focused on developing better measures of chromosomal instability to improve personalized medicine. He joined the Van Loo Lab as a TRIUMPH Fellow in July of 2023 where he will investigate evolutionary patterns of extrachromosomal DNA. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and all things outdoors.

Dr. Lynch's Research Interests:
Dr. Lynch's research is broadly focused on the interplay of genetic instability, phenotypic plasticity, and tumor evolution. He is particularly interested in the evolution of genomic rearrangements, as they underly the alterations targeted by many precision therapies (amplifications and fusions). He is building novel computational tools to understand how genome rearrangements and focal amplifications evolve over time and space, the molecular mechanisms that cause these changes, and their impact on cancer biology and cancer patients alike.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Lynch is supported by an NIH F32 Fellowship.

Dr. Fatemeh Molaei earned her B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology (Genetics) from Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. She then completed her M.Sc. in Human Genetics at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, followed by her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Toronto, Canada, under the supervision of Dr. Stéphane Angers. Her Ph.D. research focused on characterizing glioblastoma tumor heterogeneity and plasticity using CRISPR–Cas9 screening to identify novel, potentially targetable genes. Dr. Molaei joined the TRIUMP program in February 2026.

Dr. Molaei's Research Interests:
Dr. Molaei’s research focuses on understanding the transcriptional programs that regulate NK cell function in solid tumors. At the Rezvani Lab, she uses functional genomic screening to identify genes that enhance or limit the anti-tumor activity of NK cells, particularly against pancreatic cancer. Her goal is to develop strategies that improve CAR-NK cell persistence and function within the suppressive tumor microenvironment, ultimately enabling more effective treatments for solid tumors.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Molaei is supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

Dr. Morris earned his B.S. in Nanomedicine Engineering and B.A. in Chemistry from the University of Virginia. He later earned his M.S. in Biological and Physical Sciences from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. In 2022, Dr. Morris earned his Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. His graduate work was entitled “Towards Personalized Medicine: Identifying, Characterizing, and Targeting Drivers of Aggressive Cancers.” Under the direction of Dr. Marty Mayo, his research focused on using genomic datasets and molecular biology tools to investigate novel mechanisms potentiating aggressive cancers. Results from this work are helping redefine how cryptic cancer genetic events heighten replication stress and subsequently impact several hallmarks of cancer. Dr. Morris joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a TRIUMPH postdoctoral research fellow in 2022.

Dr. Morris' Research Interests:
Dr. Morris' research project is focused on identifying and targeting novel vulnerabilities in small cell lung cancer to overcome therapeutic resistance.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Morris is currently supported through his LCRF Fellowship.

Dr. Duy (Joey) Nguyen earned his Ph.D. at the Mayo Clinic under the mentorship of Dr. Alan Fields. Prior to graduate training, Dr. Nguyen received his B.S. from the University of South Florida and worked as a research assistant in Dr. Kiran Mahajan’s laboratory. His research focused on lung adenocarcinoma and castration-resistant prostate cancer, with an emphasis on the mechanisms driving tumor plasticity, metastasis, and therapy resistance. In the long term, Dr. Nguyen aims to become an independent translational cancer biologist, dedicated to identifying drivers of metastasis and therapy resistance and translating these insights into actionable therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Dr. Nguyen's Research Interests:
Dr. Nguyen's research focuses on drug-tolerant persister cells in colorectal cancer, which can drive acquired resistance to targeted therapy and chemotherapy.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Nguyen is supported by CPRIT institutional funds.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Dr. Patterson earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI). She later received her M.S. in Biology from Texas Southern University under the guidance of Dr. Mario Hollomon (2016), during which she was accepted as a fellow of the Cancer Prevention Research Training Program (CPRTP) Summer Research Experience at MD Anderson under the mentorship of Dr. Joya Chandra. Dr. Patterson then received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology under the tutelage of Dr. Jere McBride (2022). Her graduate research titled “Ehrlichia chaffeensis Activates Notch Signaling Through SLiM Mimicry to Inhibit Apoptosis”, revealed a molecular mechanism whereby an obligately intracellular pathogen, Ehrlcihia chaffeensis, has evolved moonlighting proteins and molecular mimicry to rewire conserved signaling pathways and cellular functions to ensure persistent infection and survival. The identification of a short linear motif found within a non-canonical Notch ligand gives more insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms of aberrant Notch activation and may therefore lead to therapeutic approaches for diseases by which constitutively activated Notch signaling leads to disease onset and progression. Her graduate research was supported by The UTMB McLaughlin Endowment Predoctoral Fellowship Program and a Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) F31 fellowship from the NIH/NIAID. Dr. Patterson joined MD Anderson as a TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow in January 2023. 

Dr. Patterson's Research Interests:
Dr. Patterson's research project is focused on elucidating the mechanism for why a subset of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) develop new onset diabetes (NOD). Increasing evidence has shown that NOD is a manifestation of asymptomatic PDAC, and may therefore be utilized for early detection. Therefore, by identifying the underlying mechanism of dysglycemia and putative drivers of the hyperglycemic phenotype in pancreatic cancer, we may detect pancreatic cancer at earlier stages and improve therapeutic modalities.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Patterson is supported by her awarded T32 Fellowship.                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Dr. Song graduated from the University of Washington, Seattle in 2017, and later earned my PhD in Biochemistry from Yonsei University in South Korea. During his training, he focused on obesity-associated cancers, driven by the clinical gap in which obese patients are often treated similarly to lean individuals despite their distinct physiological circumstances. Intrigued by the dysfunctional adipocytes observed near tumors, he sought to understand cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) and their role in shaping a malignant tumor microenvironment (TME). Through the TRIUMPH program, he aims to further explore changes in the TME of obese patients to help develop more effective therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Song's Research Interests:
Dr. Song's research focuses on understanding how EGFR-mutant NSCLC adapts to the brain microenvironment and develop brain metastasis. Also, his research exerts to understand how brain residing metastasized cancer behave under therapeutic pressure. In particular, Dr. Song is investigating how interactions between cancer cells and neural cells promote tumor cell survival and brain colonization. Ultimately, this study aims to introduce therapeutic strategies to prevent or suppress brain metastasis in EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Song is supported by CPRIT institutional funds.                                                                                                                                                                             

Dr. Utana Umezaki earned her B.S. in Molecular Chemistry and Biochemistry from Doshisha University (Kyoto, Japan). She later received her Ph.D. in Chemistry at Rice University under the guidance of Dr. Angel Martí. Her Ph.D. research focused on quantitative binding study between photoluminescent molecules and amyloid-β aggregates using optical spectroscopy, aiming to obtain information for designing optimal small molecule-based Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Utana joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow in June 2025.

Dr. Umezaki's Research Interests:
Dr. Umezaki’s research aims to understand cell-cell communication through cell surface protein-protein interactions and related signaling processes in the context of cancer.  Specifically, she is interested in developing new class cyclic peptide-based cancer immuno-therapeutics targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling axis. Utana also studies local synaptic sub-proteomes at the interface of neurons and cancer cells using advanced multiplexed quantitative mass spectrometry

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Umezaki is currently supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

Dr. Jing Zhou earned her M.S. in Pharmacology from Xiamen University (China) and her Ph.D. in Development, Disease Models, and Therapeutics from Baylor College of Medicine under the mentorship of Prof. Daisuke Nakada. Her doctoral research focused on how mutations in DNA damage response genes confer chemotherapy resistance to hematopoietic stem cells and contribute to chemotherapy-induced clonal hematopoiesis. Her research interests include drug resistance and the development of cell and gene therapies for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Dr. Zhou joined the TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center in June 2026.

Dr. Zhou's Research Interests:
Dr. Zhou's  research project is focused on identifying and targeting disease-specific neopeptides in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to develop new immunotherapeutic strategies.

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Zhou is currently supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

Dr. Yin Zhu earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, and her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Her doctoral research focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying asparaginase-associated liver injury, with particular emphasis on lipid metabolism and stress response signaling pathways. Her work integrates both in vivo and in vitro models to investigate how metabolic and inflammatory processes contribute to cancer therapy–related toxicities. Her long-term goal is to bridge basic research and clinical practice, with a strong interest in advancing translational strategies that connect mechanistic discoveries to improved cancer therapies and patient outcomes. Dr. Zhu joined the MD Anderson Cancer Center as a TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow in July 2026.

Dr. Zhu's Research Interests:
Dr. Zhu's research will focus on understanding radiation and KRAS inhibition resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with the goal of elucidating the distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive tumor progression and metastasis. By integrating barcoding approaches with single-cell RNA sequencing, she aims to trace tumor cell lineages and characterize how individual cancer cell populations evolve across different stages of tumor development and metastatic dissemination. This approach will provide insight into the heterogeneity and plasticity of PDAC cells and help identify specific cellular states and pathways associated with therapeutic resistance, ultimately contributing to the development of more effective treatment strategies

Current Funding Source:
Dr. Zhu is currently supported by CPRIT institutional funds.

The current TRIUMPH application cycle closes on September 30, 2026. Apply today!