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 Interests: 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 Interests: 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
Edson Damian-Jacobo, B.S.
Assistant Research Coordinator
EADamian@mdanderson.org
Research Interests: GI health and Microbiota
Personal Interests: Soccer, tennis, antique book collecting
Alma Mater: Texas A&M University
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. Student
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 Interests: 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
Aishani Gargapati
Rice University Undergraduate Student
ASGargapati@mdanderson.org
Research Interest: cancer, mitochondrial dynamics, metabolism
Personal interests: Dancing Indian classical dance and Bhangra, playing tennis and running
Twitter: @aishagargapati
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
Alumni
Natividad (Rob) Fuentes, Ph.D.
TRIUMPH Post Doctoral Fellow (2020-2023)
Current Position: Assistant Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Katarina Tomasic, B.S.
Assistant Research Coordinator (2021-2023)
Current Position: Medical student at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine
Madeleine Turner, B.S.
Research Assistant (2021-2022)
Current Position: M.D., Ph.D. Student at Washington University
Carolina Garcia Garcia, Ph.D.
M.D. Ph.D. Candidate (2017-2022) Successful PhD defense in May 2022
Current Position: Medical student at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Daniel Lin, B.A.
Research Assistant (2015-2022)
Current Position: Research Laboratory Coordinator for Dr. Lauren Colbert at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Joseph Abi-Jaoude, M.D.
Research Assistant (2020-2022)
Current Position: Completing a transitional year at the University of Central Florida/HCA Healthcare GME before proceeding to Stanford University for residency in Radiation Oncology
Chidi Okoro, B.S.
Postbaccalaureate Trainee (2019-2022)
Current Position: Medical student at Texas A&M University School of Medicine
Nicholas Nguyen, B.S.
Research Assistant (2019-2021)
Current Position: Rose Service Learning Fellow, MPH candidate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Jae Phan, B.A.
Research Assistant and Laboratory Representative (2019-2021)
Current Position: Owner of Jae Phan, photography and videography
Ramez Kouzy, M.D.
Research Assistant (2019-2021)
Current Position: Resident, Department of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Yanqing Huang, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2021)
Current Position: Institute Research Investigator as MD Anderson Cancer Center
Meifang Yu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Investigator (2014-2021)
Current Position: Research Scientist at The University of Texas Health Center in Houston
Manuel Alejandro Estrada Ramirez, B.A.
Research Assistant (2019-2020)
Current Position: Medical student at Baylor College of Medicine
Jessica Molkentine, B.S.
Research Investigator and Laboratory Representative (2014-2018)
Current Position: Institute Associate Scientist III, with TRACTION at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Amit Deorukhkar, Ph.D.
Research Investigator and Laboratory Representative (2014-2018)
Current Position: Laboratory Manager for Surgical Oncology - Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Suman Govindaraju, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2015-2017)
Current Position: Research Scientist at H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
Toshiki Otoda, M.D. Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2014-2016)
Current Position: Assistant Professor at the University of Tokushima