Center for Cancer Epigenetics
Sharon Dent, Ph.D.
Director
The Center for Cancer Epigenetics (CCE) brings together faculty members focused on epigenetics, the study of heritable and acquired changes that affect gene expression and cellular differentiation without DNA sequence alteration. The CCE is directed by Sharon Dent, Ph.D.
Epigenetic changes are now thought to be just as important as gene mutations in cancer development. The ultimate goal of the center is to define the full spectrum of epigenetic changes that occur in cancers, to discover the molecular causes of these changes, and to translate that newly gained knowledge into the clinic in the form of novel, epigenetic-based therapies. Members of the center include faculty from several basic research and clinical departments at MD Anderson, including our Smithville campus, as well as Baylor College of Medicine. Information and ideas are exchanged through weekly seminars and a monthly Distinguished Lecturer Series. For more information about our research programs, use the faculty link on this page, then click on each member's name to see individual research interests.
CCE Scholars Program and Pilot Project Awards:
The Center for Cancer Epigenetics Scholar Program provides one year of salary support to outstanding Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows working in the laboratories of CCE faculty members.
2016-2017 Postdoctoral CCE Scholars:
- Dr. Jianqiang Bao, Ph.D. (M. Bedford, mentor)
- Dr. Jiameng Dan, Ph.D. (T. Chen, mentor)
- Dr. Yilei Zhang, Ph.D. (B. Gan, mentor)
2016-2017 Ph.D. Student CCE Scholars:
- Yongming Xue (X. Shi, mentor)
- Cavan P Bailey (J. Chandra, mentor)
2016-2017 Pilot Project Awards
The Center for Cancer Epigenetics also supports innovative pilot projects focused on epigenetics research that address important questions in epigenetics that are not currently funded by outside agencies but which have high likelihood of extramural funding in the near future.
- Blaine Bartholomew, Ph.D.
Examination of the function and structure of BRG1,ARID1A and ARID1B using a CRISPR-Cas9 based screen
- Bin Wang, Ph.D.
Functional analysis of linkage specific ubiqutin modification at double strand breaks
- Min Gyu Lee, Ph.D.
Inhibition of the oncogeneic histone demethylase KDM2A in lung cancer
Contact Us
Director
Sharon Y. R. Dent, Ph.D.
Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
P.O. Box 389
Smithville, TX 78957
512-237-9401
sroth@mdanderson.org
Co-Directors:
Mark T. Bedford, Ph.D.
Department of Epigenetics Molecular Carcinogenesis
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
P.O. Box 389
Smithville, TX 78957
512-237-9539
mtbedford@mdanderson.org
Xiaobing Shi, Ph.D.
Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Unit Number: Unit 1000
Houston, TX 77030
xbshi@mdanderson.org