Lab Members

Cullen Taniguchi, M.D., Ph.D.
AAAS Fellow
Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology
Director of the Physician Scientist-Translational Science Program, Radiation Oncology
Email: CTaniguchi@mdanderson.org

Dr. Taniguchi is an associate professor with a joint appointment in the Department of GI Radiation Oncology and Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology. He is a physician scientist who specializes in the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies, with a clinical and research focus on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). His laboratory studies how hypoxia (low oxygen) biology can be used to reduce radiation toxicity in normal tissues to allow higher, and potentially ablative doses of radiation, to tumors when surgery is not possible. To build on the knowledge of hypoxia in cancer, the lab also seeks to understand the role of hypoxia and how it regulates the intercellular communication within the tumor microenvironment.

A second focus of the lab is the therapeutically targeting of the energy generating mitochondria of pancreatic cancer, which are small, fragmented yet highly active. We showed that normalizing these tiny mitochondria through a process called mitochondrial fusion could inhibit the growth and metastasis of PDAC. Future studies include developing novel druggable targets within this pathway to translate to patients.

Dr. Taniguchi received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, where he also received his Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology. He completed his clinical residency in Radiation Oncology at Stanford University. On January 31, 2023, Dr. Taniguchi was elected to the Class of 2022 AAAS Fellows. He has received many other awards and honors, including the Sabin Family Fellowship and has been named a McNair, CPRIT, and Rhodes Scholar.
In his free time, Dr. Taniguchi enjoys spending time with his family, collecting wine, smoking meats and playing senior-league level basketball and softball.

Research Interests: Hypoxia biology, Tumor Microenvironment, Pancreatic Cancer, Radioprotective Agents, Radiation Biology of SBRT
Clinical Interests: SBRT, Pancreatic Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Anal Cancer, Hepatobiliary Cancer
Twitter: @TaniguchiMD
 

Tara Fujimoto, B.S.
Research Laboratory Coordinator
tnfujimoto@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Radiobiology
Personal interests: Horse-back riding, recreational sports, video games and reading
Alma Mater:  Wright State University
Twitter: @TNKFujimoto

Abagail M. Delahoussaye, B.S.
Sr. Research Assistant
AMDelahoussaye@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Mouse models in cancer research, In-Vivo imaging, radiation therapy
Personal interests: Weight lifting, mystery novels and visiting National Parks
Alma Mater: Texas A&M University at Galveston
Twitter: @AMDelahoussaye

Neeraj Kumari, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
NKumari1@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Radiation Biology, Pancreatic Cancer
Personal interests: Comedy shows, traveling, cooking and dancing
Alma Mater: Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University (B.S., M.S.); Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (DRDO), Delhi Technological University (Ph.D.)
Twitter: @DrNeerajKumari

Matthew Cribb, Ph.D.
TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellow
MTCribb@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Hypoxia, Lymphatic Vasculature, Tumor Microenvironment, In Vivo Imaging
Personal interests: Guitar, piano, golfing, running and hiking
Alma Mater: Georgia Institute of Technology (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.)
Twitter: @MatthewCribbPhd

Vincent Bernard Pagan, M.D., Ph.D.
Resident, Department of Radiation Oncology
VBernard@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Gastrointestinal cancers, tumor microenvironment, radiation biology, genomic predictors of therapy response
Personal interests: Running, weekend trips to Costco, and spending time with my wife, son, and dogs.
Alma Mater: Johns Hopkins University (B.S. M.S.); University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (M.D.); The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health GSBS (Ph.D.)
 

Emily Caggiano, B.S.
Ph.D. Candidate
MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
egcaggiano@mdanderson.org
Research interests: Cancer, drug development, metastasis, metabolism
Personal interests: Food, horse racing, reading and volunteering at the Houston SPCA
Alma Mater: Ohio University Honors Tutorial College
Twitter: @ecagg15

Jasper Chen, B.S., M.S.E.
M.D./Ph.D. Candidate
MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
JRChen@mdanderson.org
Research interests: Pancreatic cancer, epigenetics
Personal interests: Cooking
Alma Mater: Johns Hopkins University
 

Nefetiti Mims, B.S.
Research Assistant I
NPMims@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Breeding, animal handling, and cancer biology
Personal interests: Long walks with my furry friend, journaling, traveling and enjoying new experiences
Alma Mater: Tuskegee University
 

Ariana Acevedo Diaz, B.S.
Research Assistant I
ACAcevedo@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Role of mitochondria in pancreatic cancer
Personal interests: Cooking, dancing, painting and embroidery
Alma Mater: University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon Campus
Twitter: @ArianaCA12

Sahar Fattani, B.S.
Postbaccalaureate Trainee
SFattani@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Cancer, immunotherapy, and drug development
Personal interests: Traveling, crocheting, volunteering and gardening
Alma Mater: Prairie View A&M University
 

Morgan Green, B.S.
Postbaccalaureate Trainee
MMGreen1@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Pathology, veterinary science, cancer biology
Personal interests: Spending time with my pets, traveling and shopping
Alma Mater: Prairie View A&M University
 

Margaret (Maggie) Han
Rice University Undergraduate Student
MYHan@mdanderson.org
Research interest: Cancer genomics, early detection, drug development
Personal interests: Reading, traveling, playing tennis and watching sports
 

Nafiza Meher
Rice University Undergraduate Student
nm51@rice.edu
Research interest: Cell biology, cancer, translational research
Personal interests: Painting, reading, cooking and gardening