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The overall goals of the Molecular Oncology research program are to understand the fundamental cellular and molecular processes that contribute to cancer development and progression.

Normal cells have intricate molecular mechanisms that control essential phenotypes such as differentiation, cell division and movement. The molecular pathways that control these phenotypes are disrupted in cancer cells as a result of the expression of oncogenes and loss of regulatory tumor suppressor genes. These events, which are often highly specific to individual types of cancer, disrupt specific molecular pathways that result in uncontrolled cell growth and loss of normal responses to extracellular signaling cues that result in tumor development and progression.

The research interests of the program can be divided into three broad themes:

  • Cancer Genetics
  • Epigenetics
  • Chaperone Biology

Primary Faculty

photo of Nahid F. Mivechi, PHD

Nahid F. Mivechi, PHD

  • Co-Leader, Molecular Oncology & Biomarker Prog.
  • Professor

706-721-8759

photo of Satyanarayana Ande, PhD

Satyanarayana Ande, PhD

  • Associate Professor

(706) 723-0029

photo of Ali Arbab, MD, PHD

Ali Arbab, MD, PHD

  • Professor

706-721-8909

photo of Ahmed Chadli, PHD

Ahmed Chadli, PHD

  • Associate Professor

706-721-4661

photo of Vivian Lui, PHD

Vivian Lui, PHD

  • Associate Professor

706-721-5047

photo of Huidong Shi, PHD

Huidong Shi, PHD

  • Professor

706-721-6000

photo of David Wolff, PhD

David Wolff, PhD

  • Assistant Professor

706-721-0570

photo of Chunhong Yan, PHD

Chunhong Yan, PHD

  • Associate Professor

706-721-0099

Lab Members

photo of Faizal Asumda, MD, MSC

Faizal Asumda, MD, MSC

  • Assistant Professor
photo of Babak Baban, PHD

Babak Baban, PHD

  • Professor
photo of Waaqo Daddacha, PHD

Waaqo Daddacha, PHD

  • Assistant Professor
photo of Zheng Dong, PHD

Zheng Dong, PHD

  • Professor
photo of Zoya Kurago, DDS

Zoya Kurago, DDS

  • Professor
photo of Dawn Langley-Brady, PHD

Dawn Langley-Brady, PHD

  • Assistant Professor
photo of Muthusamy Thangaraju, PHD

Muthusamy Thangaraju, PHD

  • Associate Professor

Cancer Research News

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A glimpse into 22 years of research with Ahmed Chadli, PhD

“It is a great opportunity because we have a lot of great colleagues and great support in terms of core facilities and staff,” says Ahmed Chadli, PhD.

Continue reading A glimpse into 22 years of research with Ahmed Chadli, PhD
A male medical researcher wearing a white medical coat and blue gloves looks into a machine with lots of plastic tubes.

Medical College of Georgia researcher awarded $2.8 million NCI grant

The grant awarded for Chadli’s research focuses on a specific protein, UNC45A, that can be used as a promising novel immunotherapeutic target in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Continue reading Medical College of Georgia researcher awarded $2.8 million NCI grant
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High school students explore research careers with Georgia Cancer Center summer program

This summer, high school students participated in the Georgia Cancer Center's first Summer Research Experience Program.

Continue reading High school students explore research careers with Georgia Cancer Center summer program
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Georgia Cancer Center researcher studies dangers of living in a food swamp

It is a key to life, but not every person living in Augusta has the same access to healthy food as their neighbors across the region.

Continue reading Georgia Cancer Center researcher studies dangers of living in a food swamp