Ramon Sun, Ph.D., a leading biochemist and molecular biologist specializing in metabolism and spatial biology, has been named co-leader of the UF Health Cancer Institute’s Mechanisms of Oncogenesis (MOO) research program.
With 74 members across eight UF colleges, the MOO research program aims to understand how normal cells undergo complex changes leading to cancer. It focuses on epigenetics, RNA cancer biology and the biology of solid tumors prevalent in the UF Health Cancer Institute’s catchment area like lung and breast cancer. Sun, a professor in the UF Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, will co-lead the program with Lizi Wu, Ph.D. READ MORE.
Weizhou Zhang, Ph.D., who is leading novel research on cancer immunotherapeutics and basic mechanisms of cancer immunology, was named co-leader of the Immuno-Oncology and Microenvironment (IOM) research program.
The leadership change comes as the research program expands its focus to emphasize the impact of the tumor microenvironment. While microbiome science will continue to be a strong component, the change reflects the program’s broad range of research on the relationship between cancer and our immune system and how to harness the immune system for therapeutic benefit. Zhang will co-lead the program with Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D. READ MORE.
