Lab Members

Min Jin Ha, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor (2016–present)

Dr. Ha received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She serves as assistant professor of Biostatistics.

Yan (Esther) Wang, Ph.D.    
Research Scientist (2019–present)

Dr. Wang earned her Ph.D. from the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (China) and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. She joined the KeyHunt lab in 2019 and works on identifying biomarkers in breast cancer and provides her expertise in clinical studies. Specifically, she studies changes in cyclin E expression during tumor progression to identify new biomarkers for early diagnosis and new prognostic factors to predict recurrence or drug resistance.

Min Yi, M.D., Ph.D.
Data Integration Developer

Dr. Min Yi earned her Ph.D. in biostatistics and a master's degree in health informatics. She has many years of experience working with clinical researchers and basic scientists and is responsible for the application of standard statistical methods in many projects within the KeyHunt Lab.

Xiayu Rao, M.S.
Research Statistical Analyst (2019–present)

Xiayu earned her B.S. in biotechnology and M.S. in biology from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangdong, China. She relocated to the United States and completed her M.S. in food & nutrition with a specialization in cancer nutrition from Purdue University, followed by M.S. in Biostatistics from the University of Texas at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. Xiayu works on bioinformatics/biostatistics-related data analysis for the lab. She enjoys cooking, exercising, watching movie, and traveling in her free time.

Tuyen N. Bui, B.S. 
Research Investigator (2003–present)

Tuyen N. Bui received his B.S. degree in chemistry and biology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama. He joined the KeyHunt lab as a research assistant in 2003 and was promoted to research investigator, a role in which he has served since December 2017. Tuyen is experienced in a vast array of lab techniques and protocols in molecular and cell biology. His numerous areas of expertise integrates him in all projects within the laboratory. Tuyen also serves as the lab manager, overseeing the lab operations, compliance and organization. 

Serena Kim, Ph.D.
Research Assistant I (2023–present)

Angela Seballos Recinos, Ph.D.
Research Assistant I (2023–present)

Mei-Kuang Chen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2022–present)

Ronak Ghanbari Azrnier, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2023–present)

Mi Li, B.S.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2023–present)

Mi Li received his B.S. in Biology from Sichuan University in China after starting his research career as a technician at West-China Hospital of Sichuan University. Before starting his graduate studies at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, he received training at MD Anderson Cancer Center as a research assistant. In the KeyHunt lab, Mi is interested in the oncologic functions of low molecular weight cyclin E (LMW-E), particularly the association between LMW-E and genomic instability in breast cancer development, the different effects of LMW-E and full-length cyclin E on DNA replication and DNA damage responses, and how LMW-E facilitates DNA replication stress tolerance and cell proliferation with damaged DNA. Since childhood, Mi is a fan of model ships and planes. He enjoys upgrading toys for his two kids with 3-D printing. 

Linjie Luo, M.D., Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2021–present)

Linjie Luo received her M.D. degree from the Sino-France medical program at Wuhan University, China, and Lorraine University, France. She obtained her Ph.D. degree from Texas A&M University Health Science Center in 2020. Her current research interests are investigating therapeutic strategies and mechanisms of drug resistance in breast cancer, particularly the CDK4/6 inhibitors in the treatment of HER2-enriched breast cancer. She is also interested in studying breast cancer initiation, risk factors, ethnic disparities and determinants for outcomes. Her career goal is to improve breast cancer prevention and patient outcomes from basic, translational research to clinical practice. She loves all kinds of tasty food and green tea worldwide and explores new restaurants in her spare time. She also loves classical music, particularly Frederic Chopin, and watching a variety of entertainment shows.

Gracie Cantu
Administrative Coordinator in Experimental Radiation Oncology
Assistant to Dr. Keyomarsi
Email: gcantu@mdanderson.org

Gracie provides administrative and coordinating support to Experimental Radiation Oncology and to Dr. Keyomarsi. When not working, Gracie enjoys spending time with her family and working out.

Nicole Perez
Executive Assistant in Breast Surgical Oncology
Executive assistant to Dr. Hunt
Email: niperez@mdanderson.org

Nicole earned her B.S. in criminal justice with a minor in political science from Sam Houston State University. Upon graduation she deferred plans to attend law school and began a career as an administrative professional. She joined the KeyHunt Lab in the fall of 2019 as Dr. Hunt’s executive assistant. In her free time she enjoys live music, visiting new art exhibits in the museum district and spending time with her family.

Bisrat G. Debeb, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Breast Medical Oncology

The major goal of the Debeb lab is to identify and target the molecular determinants of brain metastasis, and to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the unique pathobiology of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a very aggressive and clinically distinct form of breast cancer. The lab conducts both basic laboratory investigation and translational breast cancer research with an overarching goal of developing novel and effective therapeutic strategies to improve survival of patients with aggressive breast cancer. Current efforts in the lab include developing mouse models of brain metastasis, identification and targeting of novel drivers of IBC tumorigenesis and brain metastasis, and evaluation of patient serum to identify biomarkers of aggressiveness, brain metastasis and therapy resistance.

Aysegul A. Sahin, M.D.
Professor of Pathology
Section Chief of Breast Pathology
Director, Educational Operations, Department of Pathology

David J. Tweardy, M.D.
Professor of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health

Dr. David Tweardy is a physician-scientist and head of medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center with a career-long interest in cytokine signaling and oncogenesis, in particular the identification of structural and biochemical features of signaling proteins and oncoproteins that render them susceptible to modulation by small-molecules. The discovery by his group that the major eukaryotic chaperonin, TRiC, contributes to STAT3 protein folding and function led to the discovery that some primary immunodeficiency disorders, such as autosomal-dominant hyper-IgE (Job’s) syndrome (AD-HIES), were caused by LOF STAT3 mutations that result in destabilization of STAT3 protein. On the other hand, cancers caused by GOF STAT3 mutations were found by his group to result in STAT3 homodimer stabilization. In collaboration with Tvardi Therapeutics, Inc., a small drug development company, his group exploited structural insights into the SH2 domain to develop STAT3 inhibitors that block homodimerization. In addition to targeting WT STAT3, these molecules effectively target GOF mutations. In separate studies, the stability of LOF functions mutations were shown to be improved with small-molecule proteostasis modulators. Preclinical studies are ongoing in the lab to explore the utility of proteostasis modulators to treat AD-HIE and to further develop the lead STAT3 inhibitor, TTI-101, into a drug to treat and/or prevent multiple cancers, including cancers of the liver, colon, breast, and respiratory track, as well as diseases characterized by chronic inflammation and/or fibrosis, including inflammatory bowel diseases, cachexia, asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and liver fibrosis.

Debasish (Debu) Tripathy, M.D.
Professor and Chair of Breast Medical Oncology

Dr. Tripathy’s clinical research focuses on the evaluation and development of novel therapeutics in breast cancer, specifically, growth factor receptor and cell cycle pathway targeting as well as biomarkers that predict sensitivity and resistance.  He has conducted and led multi-center clinical trials that have eventuated in new approvals for breast cancer agents shown to improve survival. His current projects are exploring drivers of resistance to cyclin-dependent kinase and HER2 growth factor-targeted therapies and with this information, developing clinical trials with novel agents and combinations to improve patient outcomes.

Hannah Wingate, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Houston Baptist University

Dr. Wingate's research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of breast cancer. She continues to collaborate with researchers in the medical center. Dr. Wingate’s teaching focus is on establishing a solid foundation of knowledge and interest in the general biology courses. She specializes in teaching cellular and molecular biology courses and developing critical thinking and laboratory skills in the upper-level courses.