Lab Members
Andy Futreal, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Chair, Genomic Medicine
Chair ad interim, Systems Biology
Professor, Genomic Medicine
Sabitha Prabhakaran, Ph.D.
Scientific Manager
Hannah C. Beird, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
Ph.D., MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Research interests:
- Multiomics profiling of rare cancers
- Genomic bases for response and resistance to cancer therapies
- Germline predisposition to cancer
Amrit K. Shrestha, M.S.
Senior Research Assistant
M.S. in Biotechnology, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
Originally from Lumbini, Nepal
Research interests:
- Automation and streamlining NGS procedures
- Data-driven optimization of procedures for augmented sequencing outcomes
- Novel sequencing technologies, AI and cancer genomics
Srilekha Manali Rameshkumar, M.S.
Research Coordinator, Genomic Medicine
M.S., University of Houston, Clear Lake
Research interests:
- Project management
- Finance and project budget administration
- Regulatory compliance for laboratory functioning
- Clinical/Research area of interests: gene modification (T Cells/NKT Cells), cryopreservation and patient infusion, DNA/RNA extraction and quantification, transduction, cloning, plasmid recovery and purification, bioinformatics databases
Vivian A. Gabisi, M.S.
Senior Research Assistant
M.S., The University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana
Originally from Houston, Texas
Research interests:
- Sequencing novelty germlines and tumors
- Analyzing and troubleshooting results from quality control data
- Expanding knowledge of current and new SOPs
Courtney McRuffin, B.S.
Research Investigator
B.S. in Biology, Xavier University of Louisiana
Research interests:
- Genetic mutations and their roles in cancer development
- Whole genome and exome sequencing identifying rare disorders
- Expanding genetic diversity
Chi-Wan B. Chow, D.V.M., M.A.
Research Investigator
M.A. in Biology, The University of Texas at Austin
D.V.M. in Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University
Research interests:
- Sequencing library prep and sequencing
- Database management
- Protocol development and troubleshooting
Chia-Chi (Tina) Chang, Ph.D.
Principal Research Scientist
Core Manager, CCSG Microbiome Core Facility
Ph.D., Cancer Biology Program, MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Research interests:
- Translational microbiome research
- Microbiome-cancer interactions
- Next-generation sequencing development
- Innovative methodologies
Former Lab Members
Kadir Akdemir, Ph.D.
Joshua Baguley, M.S.
Marcus Coyle, M.H.A.
Jennifer Goldstein, M.D.
Curtis Gumbs
Ghayas (Gus) Issa, M.D.
Yonathan Lissanu Deribe, M.D., Ph.D.
Latasha Little
Christigale Mandapat
Akash Mitra
Rebecca Thornton
Samantha Tippen, M.S.