Clinical and translational research plays a vital role in determining treatment plans at Houston Methodist and in bringing tomorrow's cures to our patients today. Explore the bridges between research and clinical care that have been built by our interdisciplinary faculty team and global network of collaborators.

Basic Research Programs ➝

At Houston Methodist, our dedicated teams of world-renowned researchers help support the mission of our oncologists of bringing the latest technologies and advanced treatment options to patients as quickly and safely as possible. Our researchers conduct translational research and support numerous cancer-specific clinical trial protocols for brain, breast, liver, lung and many other forms of cancer.

Cancer Clinical Trials ➝

Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center Cancer Research Training & Education Coordination (CRTEC) coordinates and provides essential cancer-focused education, training, and career enhancements for healthcare professionals.

Cancer Research Training & Education Coordination (CRTEC) ➝

In support of its research activities, the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center has developed a number of shared resources. These resources are available to all Houston Methodist investigators to facilitate their research goals. 

Shared Resources ➝

Identification of Epigenetic and Immune Biomarker Changes During the Progression of Non-Alcohol Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Nestor Esnaola, MD., MPH
• Kaifu Chen, PhD
• Ping-Ying Pan, PhD
• Shu-Hsia Chen, PhD

Harnessing Immune-checkpoint Therapy for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

• Ping-Yan Pan, PhD
• Shu-Hsia Chen, PhD
  
  

Characterization of Breast Microbiome in Triple-negative Breast Cancer and Prediction of Immunotherapy Response

• Roberto Rosato, PhD
• Polly Niravath, MD

LINE-1 Retroelement Expression and Lung Cancer Immune Evasion

• Kenneth Ramos, PhD (TAMU)
• Shu-Hsia Chen, PhD
• Eric Bernicker, MD

Nuclear Receptor 4A1 (NR4R1) Antagonists as Immunotherapy Mimics for Targeting PD-L1 in Colon Cancer

• Maen Abdelrahim, MD
• Stephen Safe, PhD (TAMU)

Nano-immunotherapy Targeting Macrophages to Arrest Liver Metastasis in Ovarian Cancer

• Aparna Kamat, MD
• Biana Godin, PhD
• Shreya Raghavan, PhD (TAMU)

Exploration of Early-Stage Biomarkers of Urothelial Cell Transformation Induced by Chronic Arsenic Exposure

• Raj Satkunasivam, MD
• Taeyun Roh, PhD (TAMU)

Multi-Omics Profiling Of Squamous Cell Lung Cancer

• Randa El-Zein, PhD

Cancer Immunoprevention with a Novel mRNA Vaccine

• Ming You, PhD
• Shu-Hsia Chen, PhD
• Roman Sukhovershin, PhD (RNAcore)

Combination Therapy with PSMA-CART and Anti-PD1 for Metastatic Prostate Cancer

• Bin He, PhD
• Brian Miles, MD

Activating Retinoic Acid Receptors to Overcome Myeloma Drug Resistance

• Qing Yi, MD, PhD
• Sai Ravi Pingali, MD
• Qiang Wang, PhD

Innovation:

• Liver HCC Molecular Imaging Theranostics
  • Diego Martin, MD, PhD, FRCPC
• Deciphering a novel mechanism of myeloma tumorigenesis in African Americans with obesity
  • Jing Yang, PhD

IIT:

• Combination Therapy Using ATRA and Carfilzomib to Treat Proteasome Inhibitor Refractory Multiple Myeloma
  • Qing Yi, MD, PhD

Innovation:

• Mechanisms and Targeting of Lysosome Biogenesis in Tumor Persisten
  • Yulin Li, MD, PhD
• Exploring the tumor repressive activity of ERβ mRNA-based therapy in aggressive forms of breast cancer
  • Christoforos Thomas, PhD

IIT:

• Phase II trial of an iNOS inhibitor plus tremelimumab and durvalumab in patients with metastatic or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Anaum Maqsood, MD
• Phase I Trial of 5-Fluoruracil (5FU)-based Therapy in Combination with Hydoxytyrosol (HT) in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
  • Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, PharmB
• Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Novel, Blood Epigenetic Marker for Assessing Measurable Residual Disease in Patients with AML
  • Shilpan Shah, MBBS
• High dose RA TE brachytherapy prior to robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy with selective adjuvant advanced androgen blockage for localized high-risk prostate cancer (NEOHDR-B)
  • Andrew M. Farach, MD

CAR-T:

• Armored, affinity-tuned EpCAM CAR T cells for gastric cancer
  • Moonsoo M. Jin, PhD