Cancer deaths in the U.S. dropped 27% from 2001 to 2020, but roughly 600,000 people still die from cancer each year. In collaboration with colleagues across VCU and around the world, our researchers strive to be part of the solution. We are making scientific discoveries that will inform the development of improved diagnosis, prevention and treatment methods for cancer. Our studies examine the interaction between genetic factors and the development of cancer cells, such as how misregulation of physiological processes contributes to carcinogenesis and how mechanisms of gene regulation could inhibit immune system avoidance by tumor cells.

Students and trainees work alongside dedicated faculty in our labs to conduct cutting-edge research in the following areas related to cancer molecular genetics and experimental therapeutics:

  • Characterizing molecular determinants of cancer development and progression (brain, colon, breast, liver, lung, ovary, pancreas and prostate)
  • Effects of genetic alterations on tumorigenesis
  • Immuno-modulating approaches to treat cancer and other inflammatory diseases
  • Immunotherapy development and vaccination against cancer
  • Molecular mechanism of liver cancer
  • Novel cancer therapeutic strategies engaging multiple antitumor mechanisms
  • Role of cell competition in cancer development and progression
  • Role of epigenetics in cancer development, progression and therapy
  • Stress proteins, scavenger receptors in inflammation, pathogen recognition and immune homeostasis
  • Therapeutic effects of cancer terminator viruses

Partners and Collaborators

Faculty

Explore faculty research interests and recent publications by clicking the photos below.

Praveen Bhoopathi, Ph.D.

Praveen Bhoopathi, Ph.D.

Instructor

Praveen Bhoopathi, Ph.D.

Praveen Bhoopathi, Ph.D.

Instructor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research interests: Molecular basis of cancer development and progression, neuroblastoma and animal models of cancer

Email: praveen.bhoopathi@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Swadesh Das, Ph.D.

Swadesh Das, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Swadesh Das, Ph.D.

Swadesh Das, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research interests: Genomic changes in the development of cancer, with a specific focus on melanoma

Email: swadesh.das@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Luni Emdad, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

Luni Emdad, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Luni Emdad, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

Luni Emdad, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research interests: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) interacting molecules involved in cancer progression, possible cancer stemness and angiogenesis toward developing novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit cancer progression

Email: luni.emdad@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., FNAI

Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., FNAI

Professor

Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., FNAI

Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., FNAI

Professor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Director of the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine

Research interests: Molecular basis of cancer and neurodegeneration, development of improved diagnostics and therapeutics for related diseases

Email: paul.fisher@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Zheng Fu, Ph.D.

Zheng Fu, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Zheng Fu, Ph.D.

Zheng Fu, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research interests: Molecular mechanisms of cell cycle control and genome stability as they relate to carcinogenesis; development of novel, targeted cancer therapies

Email: Zheng.Fu@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Rajan Gogna, Ph.D.

Rajan Gogna, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Rajan Gogna, Ph.D.

Rajan Gogna, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Email: Rajan.Gogna@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Suyun Huang, M.D., Ph.D.

Suyun Huang, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor

Suyun Huang, M.D., Ph.D.

Suyun Huang, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research interests: Molecular and cellular mechanisms of tumor progression, invasion and metastasis, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression including histone methylation and ubiquitination, and RNA m6A methylation, and their impacts on cancer cell resistance to therapeutics

Email: suyun.huang@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Joseph W. Landry, Ph.D.

Joseph W. Landry, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Joseph W. Landry, Ph.D.

Joseph W. Landry, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research interests: Chromatic remodeling complexes and histone modifying enzymes in the structural regulation of chromatin and ultimately gene expression; identification of small molecule therapeutics for inhibiting metastasis and immune system avoidance by tumor cells

Email: joseph.landry@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Devanand Sarkar, M.B.B.S., Ph.D

Devanand Sarkar, M.B.B.S., Ph.D

Professor

Devanand Sarkar, M.B.B.S., Ph.D

Devanand Sarkar, M.B.B.S., Ph.D

Professor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research interests: Key molecules regulating development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the development of therapeutic strategies to treat HCC

Email: devanand.sarkar@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Xiang-Yang (Shawn) Wang, Ph.D.

Xiang-Yang (Shawn) Wang, Ph.D.

Professor

Xiang-Yang (Shawn) Wang, Ph.D.

Xiang-Yang (Shawn) Wang, Ph.D.

Professor

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Research interests: Stress responses/proteins and pattern recognition scavenger receptors, particularly their roles in immune modulation and host response, along with the development of novel immune-based cancer therapies

Email: xiang-yang.wang@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications

Jolene Windle, Ph.D.

Jolene Windle, Ph.D.

Professor and Eminent Scholar

Jolene Windle, Ph.D.

Jolene Windle, Ph.D.

Professor and Eminent Scholar

Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

Eminent Scholar and Director of the Massey Cancer Center Transgenic Mouse Core

Research interests: Role of oncogenes in mouse mammary tumorigenesis and the development of new transgenic mouse technologies

Email: jolene.windle@vcuhealth.org

View Faculty Expertise Profile

Publications