Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis

Faculty members also serve as directors or co-directors of two of the six Centers for Research Excellence within the Institute of Basic Science (IBS). Sharon Dent, Ph.D., department chair and director of Science Park, also directs the Center for Cancer Epigenetics (CCE). The majority of our faculty are active CCE members, thus helping to build and maintain strong bridges between the MD Anderson campuses at Science Park/Smithville and Houston, as well as with other scientists within the Texas Medical Center. The Center for Environmental and Molecular Carcinogenesis (CEMC) is co-directed by three of our faculty members, C. Marcelo Aldaz, M.D., Ph.D., David Johnson, Ph.D. and Richard Wood, Ph.D. and has members in both Smithville and Houston. 

Finally, our departmental faculty, trainees and staff further unite the Houston and Science Park campuses through their involvement in two related but distinct University of Texas Health Science Center/MD Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) basic science research Ph.D. programs, Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogensis, based at Science Park, and Genes and Development, based in Houston. These two programs share an interest in defining the basic biological mechanisms underlying disease and development with the goal of translating these findings into human medical treatments. These two graduate programs share an annual joint retreat, which promotes inter-campus interaction, collaboration and comaraderie.