Cancer Biology & Therapeutics
Investigators in the Department of Cell Biology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine who study cancer biology and therapeutics analyze basic mechanisms of cancer initiation, progression, and relapse in hematological malignancies and solid cancers. We focus on cancer stem cells, DNA repair, aging, microbiome, stem cell niches, mitochondria and metabolism, transcriptional regulation, epigenetics, and glycobiology, among other areas.
Our multidisciplinary analyses integrate cutting-edge technologies in chromatin biology, cancer modeling, biophotonics, and structural biology to identify biomarkers of dissemination, residual disease, and relapse. We aim to develop clinically impactful therapeutics to target intracellular processes, cell-cell interaction, and communication in the cancer microenvironment—all pivotal for clonal expansion and in vivo dissemination of cancer cells.
Research Faculty
The Department of Cell Biology faculty below conduct research on cancer biology and therapeutics. If you are interested in collaborating on a research project, please contact the investigators directly for more information.
Julio A. Aguirre-Ghiso, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Cell Biology, Medicine, and Oncology; Rose C. Falkenstein Chair in Cancer Research
Specific research topics: aging, cancer dormancy and metastasis, cancer microenvironment, cell death and senescence, imaging, single cell analysis, and stem cells
Leonard H. Augenlicht, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Cell Biology, Medicine, and Oncology
Specific research topics: aging, cancer genetics, cellular metabolism, chromatin biology/gene regulation, development, drug development and experimental therapeutics, mitochondria biology, single cell analysis, and stem cells
Nicholas Chiorazzi, M.D.
Adjunct Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Specific research topics: cancer microenvironment, immunology, and single cell analysis
Robert A. Coleman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Specific research topics: cancer genetics, chromatin biology/gene regulation, DNA replication and repair, drug development and experimental therapeutics, hematopoiesis, imaging, proteomics and protein biochemistry, single cell analysis, and stem cells
John S. Condeelis, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Cell Biology and Surgery; The Judith and Burton P. Resnick Chair in Translational Research
Specific research topics: cancer dormancy and metastasis, cancer microenvironment, cell-based- and gene-therapy, drug development and experimental therapeutics, imaging, membrane trafficking, signal transduction, and stem cells
Winfried Edelmann, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Cell Biology and Genetics; The Joseph and Gertrud Buchler Chair in Transgenic Medicine
Specific research topics: cancer genetics, cancer microenvironment, DNA replication and repair, immunology, and stem cells
Matthew J. Gamble, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Cell Biology and Molecular Pharmacology; Assistant Director, Medical Scientist Training Program
Specific research topics: cell death and senescence, chromatin biology/gene regulation, DNA replication and repair, and RNA processing/splicing/modification
Kira Gritsman, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Departments of Cell Biology, Medicine, and Oncology; Co-Leader, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center
Specific research topics: cancer dormancy and metastasis, cancer microenvironment, chromatin biology/gene regulation, drug development and experimental therapeutics, erythropoiesis, hematopoiesis, immunology, proteomics and protein biochemistry, RNA processing/splicing/modification, signal transduction, and stem cells
Wenjun Guo, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Specific research topics: cancer dormancy and metastasis, cancer genetics, cancer microenvironment, cellular metabolism, chromatin biology/gene regulation, development, immunology, signal transduction, single cell analysis, and stem cells
Keisuke Ito, M.D., Ph.D
Professor, Departments of Cell Biology, Medicine, and Oncology (Medical Oncology); Director, Scientific Resources, The Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine
Specific research topics: aging, cancer dormancy and metastasis, cancer genetics, cancer microenvironment, cell-based- and gene-therapy, cellular metabolism, development, drug development and experimental therapeutics, erythropoiesis, hematopoiesis, imaging, mitochondria biology, proteomics and protein biochemistry, single cell analysis, and stem cells
Richard N. Kitsis, M.D.
Professor, Departments of Cell Biology and Medicine; The Dr. Gerald and Myra Dorros Chair in Cardiovascular Disease
Specific research topics: aging, cell death and senescence, cellular metabolism, drug development and experimental therapeutics, RNA processing/splicing/modification, and signal transduction
Marina Konopleva, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Subject of research topics: Apoptosis, Mitochondrial metabolism, Leukemia stem cells, Immuno-oncology, Kinase inhibitors
Lindsay M. LaFave, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology; Rubenstein Family Early Career Professorship in Environmental Determinants and Disease
Specific research topics: cancer dormancy and metastasis, cancer genetics, cancer microenvironment, chromatin biology/gene regulation, development, imaging, single cell analysis, and stem cells
Maria Marianovich, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Specific research topics: aging, cancer microenvironment, cell-based- and gene-therapy, cellular metabolism, hematopoiesis, imaging, and stem cells
U. Thomas Meier, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Specific research topics: aging, imaging, proteomics and protein biochemistry, and RNA processing/splicing/modification
Satish K. Nandakumar, M.B., B.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Specific research topics: aging, cancer genetics, cell-based- and gene-therapy, chromatin biology/gene regulation, DNA replication and repair, hematopoiesis, signal transduction, single cell analysis, and stem cells
Alexandra C. Racanelli, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Departments of Cell Biology and Medicine
Specific research topics: aging, cancer genetics, cellular metabolism, chromatin biology/gene regulation, development, drug development and experimental therapeutics, mitochondria biology, single cell analysis, and stem cells
Rebeca San Martin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Departments of Cell Biology and Oncology
Specific research topics: aging, cancer dormancy and metastasis, cancer microenvironment, chromatin biology/gene regulation, imaging, and stem cells
Pamela Stanley, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita, Department of Cell Biology
Specific research topics: cancer genetics, development, drug development and experimental therapeutics, glycobiology/glycomics, hematopoiesis, immunology, membrane trafficking, proteomics and protein biochemistry, signal transduction, and stem cells
Ulrich G. Steidl, M.D., Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Cell Biology; Professor, Departments of Medicine and Oncology; Deputy Director, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center
Specific research topics: aging, cancer genetics, cancer microenvironment, chromatin biology/gene regulation, drug development and experimental therapeutics, glycobiology/glycomics, hematopoiesis, imaging, immunology, signal transduction, single cell analysis, and stem cells
Kristy R. Stengel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology; Melissa S. and John V. Ceriale Early Career Professorship
Specific research topics: cancer genetics, chromatin biology/gene regulation, hematopoiesis, and stem cells
Britta Will, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Departments of Cell Biology, Medicine, and Oncology; Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Chair in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research
Specific research topics: aging, cancer genetics, cellular metabolism, chromatin biology/gene regulation, hematopoiesis, single cell analysis, and stem cells
B. Hilda Ye, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Cell Biology
Specific research topics: cancer genetics, cancer microenvironment, drug development and experimental therapeutics, immunology, signal transduction, single cell analysis, and stem cells.