Center for Cancer Epigenetics
Xiaodong Cheng, Ph.D., and Mark Bedford, Ph.D.,
Co-Directors
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 has two co-directors, Xiaodong Cheng, Ph.D. and Mark Bedford, Ph.D. CCE members meet to discuss their current research in an informal setting at regular intervals and at an annual retreat.
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 link "Faculty and Staff" here, or on the left side of this page, to see a list of CCE members linked to each member's 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.
2018-2019 Graduate Student Scholars:
- Amelie Albrecht (Xuetong Shen Lab, declined in order to accept the Terry and Janet Klebe Fellowship)
- Mary Figueroa (Joya Chandra Lab)
2018-2019 Postdoctoral Scholars:
- Manish Kumar (Min Gyu Lee Lab)
- Vrutant Shah (Michelle Barton Lab)
2018-2019 Pilot Project/NGS Awards:
The Center for Cancer Epigenetics also supports innovative pilot projects and Next Gen Sequencing projects focused on research that addresses important questions in epigenetics that are not currently funded by outside agencies but which have a high likelihood of obtaining extramural funding in the near future.
- Kapil Bhalla
- Sharon Dent
- Marcos Estecio
- Boyi Gan
- Kevin McBride
- Margarida Santos
- Bin Wang
Contact Us
Xiaodong Cheng, 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
713-834-6274
xcheng5@mdanderson.org
Mark T. Bedford, Ph.D.
Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
P.O. Box 389
Smithville, TX 78957
512-237-9539
mtbedford@mdanderson.org