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A field of red-stained cells with blue spots near the centers
BMB PhD Program Research Themes

Cancer Biology

Cancer has been a historical and long-standing area of research in our program. Our faculty study cancer across a range of types, and a range of scales – from cellular changes to the role of the tumor microenvironment, to the populations and the roles of risk factors and socioeconomic effects. 

The faculty below have a particular focus in this area. For other major themes, visit our program scope page.

Scott Bailey

Exploring structure and function

James Berger

James M. Berger

Structural mechanisms of molecular machines

Fred Bunz

Fred Bunz

Stress-activated pathways and anti-cancer therapies

Danfeng Cai

Danfeng (Dani) Cai

Imaging transcription and cellular organization

Chi Van Dang

Chi Van Dang

Oncogenic alteration of metabolism and immunity

Andrew Ewald

Andrew J. Ewald

Cellular and molecular basis of cancer metastasis

Daniele Gilkes

Daniele Marie Gilkes

Microenvironmental regulators of metastasis

Stephanie Hicks

Stephanie Hicks

Applied statistics for genomics & biomedical data

Elizabeth Jaffee

Elizabeth Jaffee

Pancreatic cancer vaccines and interception

Brittany Jenkins-Lord

Brittany Jenkins-Lord

Molecular consequences of cancer disparities

Jennifer Kavran

Jennifer Kavran

Hippo signaling & protein kinases

Ken Kinzler

Kenneth Kinzler

Cancer genetics to improve detection & treatment

Marikki Laiho

Marikki Laiho

Targeting cancer transcriptional programs

Michael Matunis

Michael J. Matunis

SUMO functions and effects

Alan Meeker

Alan Meeker

Telomere biology and maintenance in cancer

Utthara Nayar

Utthara Nayar

Targeting resistant breast and ovarian cancer

Philipp Oberdoerffer

Philipp Oberdoerffer

Epigenetics of genome maintenance

Kenneth Pienta

Kenneth J. Pienta

Utilizing ecologic principles to study cancer lethality

Vito Rebecca

Vito Rebecca

Cancer metastasis, therapy resistance, health disparities 

Cynthia Sears

Cynthia L. Sears

Mechanisms of microbiota, microbiome, and cancer

Dipali Sharma

Dipali Sharma

Cancer: microbial dysbiosis, racial disparities & obesity

Kellie Smith

Kellie N. Smith

Unlocking the power of tumor-specific T cells

Eneda Toska

Eneda Toska

Epigenetic regulation & therapy response in cancer

Fengyi Wan

Fengyi Wan

Investigating colonic health and diseases

Ashani Weeraratna

Ashani Weeraratna

Melanoma, aging, and microenvironments 

Denis Wirtz

Denis Wirtz

New cell therapies for cancer and auto-immune diseases

Neeha Zaidi

Neeha Zaidi

Developing vaccines to treat & prevent pancreatic cancer