Contact the Division of Cancer Biology
Division of Cancer Biology
9609 Medical Center Drive MSC 9747/9748
Bethesda, MD 20892
Office of the Director
The Director’s Office oversees the activities of the branches as well as special initiatives and Programs funded by the Division. The Office also fosters emerging topics in basic cancer biology, such as cancer systems biology, physical sciences in oncology, and the tumor microenvironment, in order to facilitate the development of the field.
More information on research supported by the Office of the Director is available in the Research section.
Phone: (240) 276-6180
Fax: (240) 276-7861
| Name & Position | Areas of Expertise | |
|---|---|---|
|
Director |
gallahad@mail.nih.gov | Cancer biology |
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Deputy Director |
shannon.hughes@nih.gov | Cancer metastasis and systems biology |
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Chief of Staff |
lisa.witzler@nih.gov | DCB processes and policies |
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Information Technology (IT) Specialist |
buntingj@mail.nih.gov | IT and technology platforms |
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Staff Assistant |
butlery@mail.nih.gov | DCB travel processes and policies |
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Program Analyst |
tamika.carney@nih.gov | Point of contact for the Director of DCB |
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Program Analyst |
embryj@mail.nih.gov | DCB administrative processes and policies |
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Staff Assistant |
tiffany.ferguson@nih.gov | Point of contact for the Deputy Director of DCB |
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Communications Specialist |
riante.jones@nih.gov | Health communication |
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Scientific Policy Analyst |
soumya.korrapati@nih.gov | NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy |
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NCI Communications Fellow |
rebekah.mikeasky@nih.gov | Science communication |
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Communications Manager |
claire.mccarthy@nih.gov | DCB communications |
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Program Analyst |
turnermca@mail.nih.gov | DCB portfolio and data analysis |
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Office Automation Technician |
whitehem@mail.nih.gov | Automation systems |
Cancer Cell Biology Branch
CCBB supports and directs research that defines the biological basis for the differences between normal cells and cancer cells, with a major emphasis on studies that reveal processes and molecular targets where there is potential for therapeutic or preventive intervention.
More information on research supported by this branch is available in the Research section.
Phone: (240) 276-6230
Fax: (240) 276-7865
| Name & Position | Areas of Expertise | |
|---|---|---|
|
Chief |
yassinr@mail.nih.gov | Gastroesophageal cancer biology, tumor-initiating cells/stem cells, and plasticity |
|
Sharmistha Ghosh-Janjigian, Ph.D. Program Director |
sharmistha.ghosh-janjigian@nih.gov | Cell cycle regulation, early lesion biology, as well as oncogenes and their mechanisms |
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Program Director |
luoru@mail.nih.gov | Post-translational modifications, circadian biology, and R03, R15, and R50 grants in cancer cell biology |
|
Program Director |
stefan.maas@nih.gov | RNA biology, RNA regulation of cancer processes, tumor suppressors, and the regulation of translation |
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Program Director |
salnikok@mail.nih.gov | Cell death and survival pathways, cell stress in cancer, and the role of aging/sex in cancer biology |
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Program Director |
kristine.willis@nih.gov | Cancer cell metabolism and energetics, mitochondria and organelle biology, as well as experimental models |
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Program Director |
xuw@mail.nih.gov | Cancer cachexia biological pathways, cancer signaling pathways, and cellular chaperones |
Cancer Immunology, Hematology, and Etiology Branch
CIHEB includes the Immunology and Hematology Section and the Cancer Etiology Section.
The Immunology and Hematology Section supports studies on the basic mechanisms of anti-tumor immune responses and hematologic malignancies.
The Cancer Etiology Section supports two broad categories of studies on possible etiological factors or co-factors in cancer: biological agents (primarily viruses and bacteria) and host predisposing states including obesity, diet, and aging.
More information on research supported by this branch is available in the Research section.
Phone: (240) 276-6200
Fax: (240) 276-7867
| Name & Position | Areas of Expertise | |
|---|---|---|
|
Chief |
howcrofk@mail.nih.gov | Cancer immunology, multiple myeloma, extracellular vesicles, and retrotransposons |
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Program Director |
daschnep@mail.nih.gov | Cancer etiology, biological carcinogenesis, microbiome, and the role of diet/nutrition/obesity in cancer |
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Program Associate Director |
duglasy@mail.nih.gov | R13 and R50 grants related to cancer immunology and cancer health disparities |
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Program Director |
jhappanc@mail.nih.gov | Oncogenic RNA viruses, hematopoietic malignancies, multidrug resistance in cancer, and the nervous system regulation of cancer |
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Program Director |
klauzing@mail.nih.gov | Hematopoiesis, myeloid malignancies, bone marrow niche, and epitranscriptomics |
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Program Director |
kuols@nih.gov | Immunology and virology, microscopy for cancer, vesicle biology, and molecular biology related to antitumor immunity |
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Program Director |
liuy@exchange.nih.gov | Immunity/autoimmunity, inflammation, lymphocyte migration, and T cell receptor signaling |
|
Susan McCarthy, Ph.D. Volunteer |
mccarths@mail.nih.gov | T cells, immunosuppression, immunotherapy, and immunotherapy-related adverse events |
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Head - Cancer Etiology Section |
bconnole@mail.nih.gov | Cancer etiology, oncogenic viruses, and biology related to HIV/AIDS and cancer |
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Program Director |
monica.zamisch@nih.gov | Cancer immunology, molecular biology, vaccine development, and systems biology |
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Program Analyst |
zulekha.sayyed@nih.gov | Medical technology, immunology, and biotechnology |
DNA and Chromosome Aberrations Branch
DCAB supports basic cancer research focused on making clear the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of tumorigenesis and mechanisms of chemical and physical carcinogenesis.
More information on research supported by this branch is available in the Research section.
Phone: (240) 276-6250
Fax: (240) 276-7865
| Name & Position | Areas of Expertise | |
|---|---|---|
|
Chief |
ian.fingerman@nih.gov | Cancer genomics, mechanisms of cancer susceptibility, genetic heterogeneity, and non-coding RNAs |
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Program Director |
rjohnso2@mail.nih.gov | Chemical and tobacco carcinogenesis, replication stress, DNA damage signaling, and transcriptional regulation by ER and p53 |
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Program Director |
okanop@mail.nih.gov | Epigenetic modifications, chemical and UV mutagenesis, DNA repair, and DNA polymerases |
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Program Director |
sharmananu@nih.gov | Genomic/epigenomic alterations related to cancer health disparities, genetic models for cancer disparities, and R03, R15, and R50 grants related to DNA and chromosome aberrations |
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Program Director |
michael.weinreich2@nih.gov | DNA replication, replication stress, cell cycle, and DNA damage checkpoints |
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Program Director |
witkinkeren@mail.nih.gov | Genome instability and chromosomal rearrangements, double strand break repair pathways, telomere maintenance, and fusion oncoproteins |
Biophysics, Bioengineering, and Computational Sciences Branch
BBCSB supports studies in three areas: technology development and molecular applications; biophysical biology; and computational/mathematical methods and bioinformatics development. The branch also supports integrated and systems biology approaches to cancer biology.
More information on research supported by this branch is available in the Research section.
Phone: (240) 276-6210
Fax: (240) 276-7863
| Name & Position | Areas of Expertise | |
|---|---|---|
|
Chief |
couchj@mail.nih.gov | Artificial intelligence, technology development, citizen science, and structural biology |
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Program Director (Contractor) |
anowarul.amin@nih.gov | Biophysics, structure-function mechanisms, proteomics, and cellular imaging |
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Program Director |
steven.becker@nih.gov | Tissue engineering and 3D culture, regenerative medicine, cell characterization, and imaging technologies |
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Program Associate Director |
brownrob@mail.nih.gov | SBMAB grant portfolio analysis and policies |
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Program Director |
hannah.dueck@nih.gov | Cancer systems biology, tumor heterogeneity, and single-cell biology |
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Program Director |
eric.johnsonchavarria@nih.gov | Cytoskeleton, protein structure, microfluidics and microfabrication, and single molecule techniques |
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Program Director |
jiayinli@mail.nih.gov | Informatics, deep learning, protein structure modeling, and synthetic biology |
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Program Director |
david.miller3@nih.gov | Mathematical methods and analysis, computational modeling, software development, and data science |
Tumor Biology and Microenvironment Branch
The Tumor Biology and Microenvironment Branch supports basic tumor/early lesion-microenvironment research across the different stages of tumorigenesis. The focus is on the mechanistic underpinnings of bidirectional tumor and/or early lesion interactions with its microenvironment as co-organizers dictating tumor initiation and/or indolence, progression and response to therapy.
More information on research supported by this branch is available in the Research section.
Phone: (240) 276-6220
Fax: (240) 276-7866
| Name & Position | Areas of Expertise | |
|---|---|---|
|
Chief |
hildesheimj@mail.nih.gov | Tumor-stroma co-organizer biology, mechanisms of therapy resistance, senescense, and stress signaling in tumors |
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Program Director |
berat@mail.nih.gov | Treatment resistance, tumor cell plasticity and polarity, and molecular signaling in the tumor microenvironment |
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Scientific Program Specialist |
christina.george@nih.gov | R03, R13, and R50 grants related to the tumor microenvironment |
|
Program Director |
mihoko.kai@nih.gov | Tumor heterogeneity, stem cell biology, non-coding RNAs in the microenvironment, and hormone signaling |
|
Program Director |
natalia.mercer@nih.gov | Tumor stroma, tumor and microenvironment metabolism, protein modifications, and glycobiology |
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Program Director |
woodhousee@mail.nih.gov | Extracellular vesicles, extracellular matrix and cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and cancer cell migration |
Tumor Metastasis Branch
The Tumor Metastasis Branch plans, develops and directs the Division’s research program in tumor metastasis, focusing on mechanisms of metastasis and metastatic niches, circulating tumor cells, dormancy, and angiogenesis and vasculogenesis.
More information on research supported by this branch is available in the Research section.
Phone: (240) 276-6220
Fax: (240) 276-7866
| Name & Position | Areas of Expertise | |
|---|---|---|
|
Chief |
watsonjo@mail.nih.gov | Circadian rhythms, cancer cachexia, circulating tumor cell biology, and mechanisms of metastasis |
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Program Director |
aultg@mail.nih.gov | Cell invasion and migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metabolic adaptation to the microenvironment, and growth factor signaling |
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Program Director |
justin.benavidez@nih.gov | Biological sciences, developmental biology, and cancer metastasis |
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Program Director |
grilbrun@mail.nih.gov | Brain metastases, blood-brain/tumor barrier, experimental therapies for metastasis, and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling |
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Program Director |
christine.nadeau@nih.gov | Mammalian models of cancer, Notch signaling, breast cancer, and systemic immunity |
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Program Director |
snyderwe@mail.nih.gov | Xenobiotic and cellular metabolism, metastasis, aging biology, and the bone microenvironment |
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Program Associate Director |
fanta.whiting@nih.gov | R03, R15, and R50 grants related to cancer metastasis |
Administrative Resource Center
The Administrative Resource Center (ARC) of DCB and the NCI Division of Extramural Activities (DEA) is responsible for facilitating administrative processes involved in conducting the research activities and functions of DCB research areas.
| Name & Position | Areas of Expertise | |
|---|---|---|
|
Division ARC Manager |
bt8n@nih.gov | NCI administrative and management policies and processes |
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Division ARC Deputy Director |
gravese@mail.nih.gov | DCB and DEA administrative and management policies and processes |
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Administrative Officer |
dyottk@mail.nih.gov | NCI travel policies and procurement processes |
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Administrative Officer |
greenek@mail.nih.gov | NCI financial policies/grants and DCB budget processes |
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Administrative Officer |
stephensli@mail.nih.gov | NCI Human Resources policies and processes |
|
Paige Walker Administrative Technician |
paige.walker@nih.gov | DCB administrative and travel policies |
Additional DCB/DEA ARC staff include the following DEA Administrative Officers: Rhudel Stevens (Lead Administrative Officer), Jamie Brewer, Katelyn Beahm, and Paul Fatula.