About Us
Basic Cancer Research in a Unique Setting
The Virginia Harris Cockrell Cancer Research Center at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Science Park) is a basic science research campus located in the Lost Pines region of Central Texas near Smithville, in close proximity to Austin. Home to the Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, our overarching mission is to investigate the molecular biology of cancer and to develop means for cancer prevention and detection.Science Park provides an ideal setting for scientific research, education, conferences and workshops. The overall goals of our research programs are to understand the basic mechanisms of carcinogenesis, identify new targets for prevention and therapy, identify new markers for early detection, and identify genetic determinants of cancer susceptibility.
Leadership in MD Anderson Centers of Excellence
As one of six basic science departments at MD Anderson, the Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis makes substantial contributions to the research and education missions of the institution.
Departmental faculty provide leadership to one of the major basic science programs in the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) from the NCI: the Program in Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics.
Faculty members also serve as directors or co-directors of two of the six centers 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). Many of our faculty are active CCE members thus helping 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, and includes members from both Science Park and Houston.
State-of-the-Art Shared Resources
Department faculty direct several shared resources, including the CCSG supported Sequencing and Microarray Facility in Houston and the Science Park Research Animal Support Facility (RASF-S), which has several Core facilities. Other shared campus resources include a Molecular Biology Core, a CPRIT-funded Next-Generation Sequencing Core, a Transgenic Animal Core and a CPRIT-funded Protein Array and Analysis Core. The Flow Cytometry and Cellular Imaging Core (FCCIC) provides flow cytometry and confocal microscopy services and support, and bioinformatics and biostatistics support is also available to researchers.
Contact Us
The Virginia Harris Cockrell Cancer Research Center at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park
Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis
Main Telephone Number: 512-237-2403
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 389, Smithville, Texas 78957
Physical Address: 1808 Park Road 1C, Smithville, Texas 78957
Sharon Y.R. Dent, Ph.D.
Director, Science Park
Chair, Department of Epigenetics
and Molecular Carcinogenesis
sroth@mdanderson.org
Cindy Morgan
Executive Assistant
512-237-9414
crmorgan1@mdanderson.org