Lab Members
Principal Investigator
Joya Chandra, Ph.D.
Professor
Email: JChandra@MDAnderson.org
B.S. Microbiology, Louisiana State University, 1993
Ph.D. Cancer Biology and Immunology, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1998
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Division of Toxicology, Institute for Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 1998-2000
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Division of Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, 2000-2002
Hobbies: Cooking, Kayaking and Canoeing
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Mary Figueroa
Graduate Student
Email: MFigueroa1@MDAnderson.org
B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, 2016
Mary's work is examining how cigarette smoking and chemicals in cigarettes promote leukemia progression and influence treatment response. She hopes to find ways to reduce this change is ROS as a method to help treat leukemia patients with a past or current history of smoking.
Hobbies: Watching Movies, Eating, Sketching and Reading
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Megan Rodriguez
Research Assistant I
Email: MRRodriguez1@MDAnderson.org
B.S. Chemistry, University of Chicago, 2020
B.A. Neuroscience, University of Chicago, 2020
Megan's work focuses on the mechanisms by which diet quality and diet timing impact leukemia progression and treatment efficacy. She is also conducting clinical research on diet interventions for cancer patients through a multisite nutrition study.
Hobbies: Gardening, Reading, and Hiking
Hometown: Houston, TX
Lea Stitzlein
Graduate Student
Email: LStitzlein@MDAnderson.org
B.S. Biology, University of Findlay, 2019
Pharm. D., University of Findlay 2020
Lea is interested in pre-clinical studies of pharmacological therapies to treat high grade gliomas. Currently, her efforts are focused on evaluating the activity of dual kinase inhibitors directed against EGFR and PI3K. She plans to examine the biological effects and identify novel combination therapies that will enhance the anti-tumor effects of our dual-kinase inhibitors.
Hobbies: Biking, Growing Houseplants, and Skiing
Hometown: Millersburg, OH
Matthew Luetzen
Research Assistant I
Email: MALuetzen@MDAnderson.org
B.S. Biology, University of Houston, 2019
Matthew is interested in understanding the mechanisms of damage correlating to reactive oxygen species from anthracycline use in pediatric cancer treatment.This is achieved by processing, measuring, and analyzing potential biomarkers of Doxorubicin-induced cellular damage utilizing blood samples from patient-derived cell lines and direct patient blood samples.
Hobbies: Traveling, Camping, Eating, and Soccer
Hometown: Houston, TX
Sanila (Dinah) Sarkar
Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellow
Email: SSarkar3@MDAnderson.org
B.S. Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, 2012
M.A. Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, 2013
M.D. Wayne State University, 2017
Pediatric Residency, University of Florida Orlando Health, 2020
Dr. Sarkar's research interests focus on how diet, nutritional status and exercise affect pediatric oncology patient outcomes and long-term toxicity. Her previous research focus on nutraceuticals in adult oncology.
Hobbies: Music, Traveling and Yoga
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Huaxian Ma
Research Investigator
Email: Hma2@mdanderson.org
B.S. Chemistry, Shandong University, 1984
M.S. Chemistry, Shandong University, 1987
Huaxian's research interests focus on generating a maintaining acute leukemia mouse models for evaluation of therapeutic strategies inclusive of pharmacological and lifestyle (nutrition, circadian and tobacco use) factors.
Hobbies: Reading, Gardening, and Hiking
Hometown: Jinan, China
Rider Calhoun
Research Assistant I
Email: RPCalhoun@MDAnderson.org
B.A. Neuroscience, Austin College, 2021
Hobbies: Digital Art, Weight Lifting, and Woodworking
Hometown: Denison, TX