Cancer Cell Biology Training Program

UNC-CH now offers a specialized predoctoral training program in cancer cell biology. This unique program combines formal training in molecular/cellular oncogenesis and the pathobiology of cancer, with the opportunity to work in one of 29 state-of-the-art cancer research laboratories.

The training faculty are an accomplished, well-funded and highly interactive group whose interests extend from basic molecular and cellular biology to translational research, and whose experimental systems range from yeast to humans. Overlapping areas of emphasis include signal transduction, cell cycle control, DNA replication, mutagenesis, repair and recombination, molecular carcinogenesis, cancer genetics and progression, and the development of animal models of tumorigenesis. The faculty are all members of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and are drawn from a variety of academic departments including Biochemistry and Biophysics, Biology, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pharmacology, and Radiation Oncology.

The training plan is multifaceted and includes laboratory rotations, didactic courses, seminar tutorials, outstanding extramural seminar programs, and other activities designed to enhance academic development and encourage esprit de corps amongst the trainee group. The program is complemented by the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center's well-established and highly successful postdoctoral training program.

Faculty and Their Research Interests

• Albert S. Baldwin: Associate Professor of Biology; Ph.D.- Signal transduction and control of gene expression
• Victoria L. Bautch: Associate Professor of Biology; Ph.D.-Animal models of vascular development and endothelial cell biology.
• Kerry S. Bloom: Professor of Biology, Ph.D.-Chromosome dynamics, and yeast molecular genetics.
• Keith W.T. Burridge: Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy; Ph.D.-Signal transduction and the role of focal adhesions.
• Sharon Campbell: Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Ph.D.-Structural studies of Ras and related proteins.
• Jeanette Cook: Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Ph.D.-Integrating DNA replication control with checkpoint signaling.
• Marila Cordeiro-Stone: Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Ph.D.-DNA replication and repair, and carcinogenesis.
• Adrienne D. Cox: Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Pharmacology; Ph.D.-Protein prenylation, Ras family oncogenes in cancer and radiation biology.
• Blossom A. Damania: Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D.-Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8).
• Robert J. Duronio: Assistant Professor, Department of Biology; Ph.D.-Drosophila development and genetics of cell cycle control
• H. Shelton Earp: Director of Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Professor of Medicine; M.D.-Tyrosine kinases and signal transduction
• Beverly Errede: Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Ph.D.-Signal transduction in yeast.
• Frank S. French: Professor of Pediatrics; M. D.,-Androgen receptors in normal and neoplastic biology.
• Bob Goldstein: Associate Professor, Department of Biology ; Ph.D.-Cell polarity in C.elegans development.
• Rudolph L. Juliano: Professor of Pharmacology; Ph.D.-The biology of integrins, and drug delivery systems.
• David G. Kaufman: Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Ph.D.-The molecular and cellular biology of carcinogenesis.
• Joseph P. Pagano: Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; M.D.-Epstein Barr virus and cancer.
• Leslie V. Parise: Professor of Pharmacology; Ph.D.-Cell surface adhesion proteins.
• Mark Peifer: Professor of Biology ; Ph.D.-Cell adhesion and signaling.
• Thomas D. Petes: Professor of Biology; Ph.D.-Yeast molecular genetics.
• John R. Pringle: Professor of Biology; Ph.D.-Cellular morphology, and yeast genetics.
• Nancy Raab-Traub: Professor of Microbioloagy and Immunology; Ph.D.- Molecular virology, and oncogenesis.
• W. Kim Rathmell: Assistant Professor of Medicine, M.D., Ph.D.-Tumorigenesis of renal cell carcinoma.
• Aziz Sancar: Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Ph.D.-DNA repair and its enzymology.
• Carolyn Sartor: Associate Professor and Chair Elect of Clinical Research Radiation Oncology; M.D.-Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) famly.
  
• Michael D. Schaller: Associate Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy; Ph.D.-Signaling and the role of focal adhesion kinase.
• Ned E. Sharpless:Assistant Professor of Medicine and Genetics; M.D.-Development and analysis of mouse models of human cancer.
• Gary J. Smith: Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Ph.D.-Microenvironmental effects on tumorigenicity.
• Brian Strahl: Assistant Professor; Ph.D.-Histone Modifications and Gene Regulation.
• David W. Threadgill: Assistant Professor of Genetics; Ph.D.-Elucidating mechanisms of growth and differentiation
• Jenny Pan Yun Ting: Professor of Microbiology and Immunology; Ph.D.-Molecular and cancer immunology.
• Terry A.Van Dyke: Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Ph.D.-Animal models of tumorigenesis.
• Bernard Weissman: Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Ph.D.-Oncogenesis and tumor suppressor genes.
• Yue Xiong: Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Ph.D.-Regulation of the cell cycle

For more information about the training program, visit http://cancer.med.unc.edu/cancer-cell or contact:

Dr. Channing J. Der, Director
Lanika DeGraffenreid, Administrator
Cancer Cell Biology Training Program
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295
Telephone: 919 966 5634
email: lmdegraf@med.unc.edu