About Us
PRIME-TR is a dedicated team that promotes and supports translational microbiome research at MD Anderson. Our ultimate goal is to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies for cancer patients and the at-risk population.
We have assembled working groups in key areas of development, composed of leading experts in each field. The goals and milestones for each working group are defined by leads, with ongoing support from PRIME-TR staff.
PRIME-TR Leadership
Jennifer A. Wargo, M.D., M.M.Sc.
PRIME-TR Director
JWargo@mdanderson.org
Nadim Ajami, Ph.D.
Executive Director for Scientific Research
NAjami@mdanderson.org
Samuel Shelburne, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-Director
Lauren Colbert, M.D., MSCR
Co-Director
Jillian Losh, Ph.D.
Scientific Project Director
JSLosh@mdanderson.org
Data Science Team
Matthew Wong, B.S.
Principal Data Scientist
MCWong@mdanderson.org
Ashish Damania, M.S.
Data Scientist
AVDamania@mdanderson.org
Abderrahman Day, M.S.
Data Scientist
ADay1@mdanderson.org
Lon Fong, Ph.D.
Assoc. Data Scientist
LWFong@mdanderson.org
Zoey Neale, Ph.D.
Assoc. Data Scientist
ZRNeale@mdanderson.org
Michael Holder
Sr. Program. Analyst
MEHolder@mdanderson.org
Spatial Profiling Team
Brenda Melendez, Ph.D.
Sr. Research Scientist
BDMelendez@mdanderson.org
Mona Ahmed, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
MMAhmed@mdanderson.org
Clinical Translation Team
Pranoti Sahasrabhojane, M.S.
Clinical Studies Supervisor
PVSahasrabhojane@mdanderson.org
Yasmine Hoballah, M.S.
Research Assistant II
YMHoballah@mdanderson.org
Vivian Orellana, M.B.A., M.H.A.
Research Assistant II
VROrellana@mdanderson.org
Project Support Team
Andreeka Lewis
Program Coordinator
AJLewis1@mdanderson.org
Affiliated Faculty Directors
Christopher Johnston, Ph.D.
Director of Microbial Genomics
Susan Bullman, Ph.D.
Director of Host-Microbe Interactions
Affiliated Faculty Leads
Alexander Lazar, M.D., Ph.D.
Pathology Lead
Christine Peterson, Ph.D.
Biostatistics Lead
Carrie Daniel-MacDougall, Ph.D.
Nutritional and Epidemiology Lead
Crisy Roland, M.D.
Clinical Trials Lead
Stephanie Watowich, Ph.D.
Immunology Lead
Florencia McAllister, Ph.D.
Preclinical Testing Lead
Jennifer McQuade, M.D.
Nutrition and Epidemiology Lead
Vanessa Jensen, D.V.M.
Animal Models Lead