Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of UT MD Anderson, said the honorees represent the institution’s commitment to excellence in research, patient care, prevention and education. Their work reflects the increasingly integrated nature of modern oncology, in which progress depends not only on developing new drugs, but also on understanding tumor biology, identifying patients most likely to benefit from particular interventions, improving radiation delivery, expanding access to prevention programs and designing safer systems of care. Together, these efforts support MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer and extend the reach of advances to patients and communities worldwide.

The Jack and Beverly Randall Prize for Excellence in Cancer Care, which carries a $100,000 award, was presented this year to Hilary Ma, M.D., a professor in General Oncology. Established in 2011 by Jack and Beverly Randall, the prize recognizes vision and creativity in cancer research and clinical care, alternating annually between researchers and clinicians. The award reflects the growing importance of care models that combine scientific innovation with practical clinical judgment. In oncology, breakthroughs become meaningful only when they can be delivered safely, equitably and efficiently to people facing complex diseases, often alongside surgery, radiation, systemic therapy and supportive care.

Jeffrey Gershenwald, M.D., professor of Surgical Oncology, and Mark Bedford, Ph.D., professor of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, received the R. Lee Clark Prize. The award, established in 2016 through the estate of Jeanne F. Shelby, honors one faculty member in clinical research and one in basic or translational research. Gershenwald’s surgical oncology field focuses on the clinical management of cancer, while Bedford’s discipline investigates epigenetic regulation, the molecular systems that influence how genes are activated or silenced without changing the underlying DNA sequence. Such research can reveal why tumors behave differently and may identify vulnerabilities for future therapies.

The Shirley Stein Scientific Endowed Research Award went to Ethan Lin, M.D., assistant professor of Interventional Radiology, and Hongxia Sun, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Anatomic Pathology. The award provides $10,000 for preliminary data generation, a critical stage in the development of clinical research programs. Early data can help investigators test whether a hypothesis is biologically plausible, refine study methods and build the evidence needed to compete for larger federal or institutional grants. Interventional radiology uses image-guided procedures to diagnose or treat disease with minimally invasive techniques, while anatomic pathology examines tissues and cells to establish diagnoses and characterize the biological features of tumors.

Katy Rezvani, M.D., Ph.D., vice president and head of the Institute for Cell Therapy Discovery & Innovation, received the President’s Award for Leadership Excellence. She is also a professor of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. The award combines the former John Mendelsohn Award for Faculty Leadership and the Charles A. LeMaistre Outstanding Achievement Award in Cancer. Her area of work is part of a rapidly developing branch of oncology in which immune cells are collected, engineered or otherwise prepared to recognize malignant cells. Cellular therapies require close coordination among laboratory scientists, manufacturing specialists, transplant teams and clinical investigators, making institutional leadership essential to moving discoveries from research settings into patient care.

Six faculty members were named Faculty Scholars, a program recognizing assistant and associate professors with exceptional potential in research, education, patient care or prevention. The honorees are Hussein Abbas, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Leukemia; Scherezade Mama, Dr.P.H., associate professor of Health Disparities Research; Amy Moreno, M.D., assistant professor of Radiation Oncology; Van Morris, M.D., associate professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology; Natalie Vokes, M.D., assistant professor of Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology; and Tao Wang, Ph.D., associate professor of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. Their fields illustrate how cancer medicine increasingly depends on interdisciplinary expertise, including population science, radiation physics, disease-specific treatment and data analysis.

Bioinformatics and computational biology are particularly important as cancer research generates vast quantities of genomic, imaging and clinical information. Computational approaches can help researchers compare tumor samples, identify patterns associated with treatment response and organize complex data into testable biological models. Health disparities research, meanwhile, examines how social, economic, geographic and structural factors influence exposure to risk, access to screening and the likelihood of receiving timely, high-quality care. By recognizing both areas alongside disease-focused specialties, the Faculty Scholar Program reflects a broader view of cancer control that includes biology, technology and the conditions in which patients live.

The Faculty Achievement Awards honored six additional faculty members for original contributions across basic science, prevention, clinical research, education, patient care and translational research. Betty Kim, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Neurosurgery, received the basic science research award. Sanjay Shete, Ph.D., professor of Biostatistics, was recognized for cancer prevention. Rodabe Amaria, M.D., professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology, received the clinical research award, while Phyu Aung, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Anatomic Pathology, was honored for education. Peter Balter, Ph.D., professor of Radiation Physics, received the patient care award, and Tina Cascone, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology, was recognized for translational research.

The range of disciplines represented by the awards underscores the complex pathway from discovery to medical impact. Basic science can identify mechanisms that drive tumor growth; biostatistics can determine whether an observed result is reliable; prevention research can reduce risk before cancer develops; and clinical trials can establish whether a promising intervention benefits patients. Radiation physics contributes to the precision and safety of treatment planning, while pathology provides the diagnostic and molecular information needed to classify disease. Translational research connects these stages by testing how findings from laboratories, models and early studies can be adapted to real-world clinical practice.

The celebration also recognized faculty excellence in quality improvement and patient safety, research, community engagement, education and mentorship. These areas may receive less public attention than dramatic laboratory discoveries, but they are essential to dependable cancer care. Quality improvement uses systematic measurement to identify weaknesses in clinical processes and test changes that improve outcomes. Patient-safety programs seek to prevent avoidable harm by examining communication, medication use, procedures and institutional workflows. Community engagement and education can strengthen prevention and early detection, while mentorship helps sustain the next generation of investigators and clinicians. Through its awards and promotions, UT MD Anderson presented cancer progress as a collective enterprise in which scientific innovation, clinical expertise and institutional responsibility are inseparable.

Subject of Research: Cancer research, oncology, cancer prevention, cellular therapy, clinical care, medical education and patient safety.

Article Title: UT MD Anderson Honors Faculty Advancing Cancer Research, Care and Prevention

News Publication Date: August 20, 2026

Web References: UT MD Anderson Cancer Center; https://www.mdanderson.org/

References: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Celebration of Faculty Excellence announcement.

Image Credits: UT MD Anderson

Keywords: cancer research, oncology, cancer prevention, faculty awards, UT MD Anderson, clinical research, translational research, cellular therapy, bioinformatics, patient care, health disparities, radiation oncology, cancer education

Among this newest cohort of Damon Runyon Fellows, five have been distinguished with the Damon Runyon-Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists. This award serves to recognize those individuals who have shown exceptional promise and have already exceeded the Foundation’s high expectations to a degree that positions them for profound impacts on cancer research. To facilitate their ascent in the field and magnify their potential breakthroughs, the Foundation extends an additional investment of $100,000 to these outstanding recipients, further amplifying their opportunity to revolutionize cancer treatment and prevention.

One notable Fellow, Fangyu Liu, PhD, underscores the ambitious nature of the Fellowship, expressing how its emphasis on innovation has propelled her to investigate high-risk but potentially transformative ideas. She reflects on how this support has not only exceeded her expectations but has also equipped her to glean invaluable insights that could ultimately lead to landmark discoveries. This sentiment reflects a broader ethos of the fellowship: to prioritize bold scientific inquiry as a means of propelling the field of cancer research forward.

The work of the Fellowship recipients reflects diverse and innovative studies that span a wide array of cancer types and methodologies. Rongxin Fang, PhD, at Stanford University, is employing genomic tools to decipher the intricate interactions between enhancers and promoters in cancer at the single-cell level. He is particularly focused on understanding cell communication in the healthy brain and how such communication becomes disrupted in brain tumors. This work may uncover valuable insights into manipulating genetic pathways to improve therapeutic responses for patients suffering from brain cancer.

In a separate but equally critical area of research, Xin Gu, PhD, from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, explores the midnolin-proteasome pathway and how it facilitates the degradation of proteins, bypassing traditional tagging mechanisms involving ubiquitination. This groundbreaking discovery holds significant implications for targeting key proteins linked to blood cancers like multiple myeloma. Dr. Gu aspires to unravel the finer details of this unique pathway to pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies that could dramatically alter treatment landscapes in hematological malignancies.

Fangyu Liu’s research occupies another vital niche in the fight against cancer, as she seeks to identify novel ligands to combat various cancers, including pancreatic and colorectal cancer. Through her innovative computational techniques, she screens vast libraries of chemical compounds, aiming to create highly specific drugs that effectively target cancerous pathways while sparing healthy tissues. Liu’s pioneering findings on calcium-sensing receptors underscore her commitment to shaping the future of cancer therapy, balancing efficacy with minimized side effects to potentially reshape standard care protocols.

Equally inventive, Akanksha Thawani, PhD, is confronting the fundamental question of how retrotransposons, often termed “selfish DNA,” propagate within the human genome. She applies cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the structural intricacies tied to these mobile genetic components. Thawani envisions her research leading to advances in genome editing technologies capable of addressing a myriad of genetic diseases, including various cancers, ultimately contributing to improved gene therapies.

Furthermore, Qinheng Zheng, PhD, is delving into the complexities of targeted therapy, specifically focusing on reactivating tumor suppressor genes like TP53, which are commonly mutated in numerous cancers. This research could signal a breakthrough in cancer therapeutics by offering new ways to counteract oncogenic mutations that currently hinder treatment options.

As the Foundation also welcomed a new class of Damon Runyon Fellows in November 2024, the research diversity continued to expand. For instance, Saket Rahul Bagde, PhD, investigates the dynamics of hemidesmosomes within cancerous epithelial tissues to facilitate the development of personalized therapies. Using organoids to simulate tumor environments, Bagde’s work could become instrumental in tailoring treatments based on individual patient profiles.

Likewise, Longyue Lily Cao, MD, PhD, focuses on enlightening the role of dendritic cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to enhance anti-tumor immunity through immunotherapeutic approaches. Her studies aim to uncover methods to leverage hyperactivated dendritic responses, thus potentially reshaping strategies for cancers resistant to traditional immunotherapy.

Teng Gao, PhD, seeks to deep-dive into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), elucidating the molecular signals that govern HSC regeneration. By navigating the uncharted territories of age-related declines and regenerative capabilities of HSCs, his research aspires to enhance stem cell therapies, opening avenues for cancer treatment breakthroughs.

Rodrigo Gier, PhD, is employing a fundamentally varied strategy focused on addressing drug resistance in tumor cells. By creatively repurposing existing therapies through drug payload strategies, Gier aims to develop innovative methods that could selectively eliminate drug-resistant cancer populations, thus greatly improving clinical outcomes.

Through their collective efforts, this cohort of scientists exemplifies the cutting-edge frontline of cancer research. Their multi-faceted approaches—from cellular communication studies to novel therapeutic methods—demonstrate the expansive potential of innovative research to unveil new horizons in cancer treatment and prevention.

The contributions of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, alongside the unwavering dedication of these exceptional researchers, symbolize a shared commitment to fighting cancer. With each breakthrough and each novel insight, they are transforming our understanding of cancer and paving the way for future advancements that promise to change the lives of countless patients.

Together, this dynamic landscape of research underscores a hopeful trajectory toward eradicating cancer and ensuring that new and effective therapies are continuously developed. As these Fellows embark on their respective paths, the cancer research community watches closely, eagerly anticipating the innovations that will surely emerge from their groundbreaking endeavors.

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Subject of Research: Advanced Cancer Research Techniques and Innovations
Article Title: Pioneering Research in Cancer: Damon Runyon Fellows Push the Boundaries of Science
News Publication Date: October 2023
Web References: http://damonrunyon.org
References: Not Applicable
Image Credits: Not Applicable

Keywords
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, cancer research, postdoctoral scientists, therapeutic innovations, stem cell therapy, cancer immunotherapy, gene therapy, tumor suppressor genes, drug resistance, molecular signaling, personalized medicine, breakthrough scientists