SCI Research Faculty

The research program at the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine is focused on translating progress in the laboratory findings to state-of-the-art treatment and compassionate care of children and adults with cancer.  Projects are directed along two major themes – early detection of cancer based on understanding molecular genetics and experimental therapeutics for cancer prevention and treatment.  Currently, SIU faculty in Springfield and Carbondale have received single - and multi-year grants for research that total more than $13 million.

Kathleen C. M. Campbell, Ph.D., professor of otolaryngology and director of audiology research, joined the SIU faculty in 1989.  She earned her doctoral degree at the University of Iowa (1989).  Her research is focused on chemotherapy and the development of new drugs for cancer treatment and prevention.

Dr. Deliang Cao, Ph.D., associate professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, joined the SIU faculty in 2005.  He earned his doctoral degree at the University of Hong Kong (1996).  Cao’s research is focused on studying cancer at the molecular and cell level and how anti-cancer drugs might be more effective.

Subhas Chakrabarty, Ph.D., professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, joined the SIU faculty in 2005.  He was a postgraduate research associate in cancer biology and pharmacology at Baylor University (1980-84).  Chakrabarty earned his doctoral degree in immunology at the University of Manitoba Medical School (1980).  His research is focused on the study of colon cancer.

Michael W. Collard, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology, joined the SIU faculty in Carbondale in 1993.  He held postdoctoral positions at the University of Michigan and the Vollum Institute of Advanced Biomedical Research (1991, 1989).  Collard earned his doctoral degree at Washington State University (1987).  His research is focused on accurate prostate cancer diagnosis.

Judith K. Davie, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, joined the SIU faculty in Carbondale in 2007.  She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (2004).  Davie earned her doctoral degree in molecular and cell biology at the University of California (1998).  Her research is focused on gene regulation.

Randolph C. Elble, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology, joined the SIU faculty in 2005.  He was a senior research associate in the cancer biology program at Cornell University (1992-2005).  Elble earned his doctoral degree at Indiana University (1986).  His research is focused on tumor suppression in breast cancer cells.

Edward Gershburg, Ph.D., assistant professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, joined the SIU faculty in 2007.  Gershburg earned his doctoral degree in virology at Tel-Aviv University (1999).  His research is focused on a member of the herpes virus group, EBV, and its effects on immunosuppressed patients.

William P. Halford, Ph.D., associate professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, joined the SIU faculty in 2007.  He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (2000).  Halford earned his doctoral degree in virology at Louisiana State University Medical Center (1996).  His research is focused on the analysis of the herpes simplex virus.

Dr. Mei Chris Huang, Ph.D., assistant professor of gastroenterology, joined the SIU faculty in 2006.  Huang completed a three-year fellowship in gastroenterology at Washington University School of Medicine (2005).  She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship and earned her doctoral degree in molecular biology at Vanderbilt Medical School (1995, 1992).  Huang is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology.  Her clinical interests include diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the esophagus, stomach and intestines and promoting colorectal cancer screening.  Her research is focused on the role of CaSR in the growth and differentiation in colonic polyps. 

Jodi I. Huggenvik, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology, joined the SIU faculty in Carbondale in 1993.  She held postdoctoral positions at the University of Michigan (1988-91), Vollum Institute of Advanced Biomedical Research (1987-88) and the University of Washington (1985-87).  She earned her doctoral degree at Washington State University (1985).  Her research is focused on tumor suppressor genes as tumor markers for prostate cancer diagnosis.

Teresa Liberati, D.V.M., Ph.D., research assistant professor of internal medicine and director of laboratory animal medicine, joined the SIU faculty in 2006.  She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular and cellular toxicology at Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute (1996).  Liberati earned her doctoral degree and completed her laboratory animal medicine residency at the University of Rochester (1995, 1992).  She earned her veterinary medicine degree at Ohio State University (1988).  Liberati is board certified in laboratory animal medicine and toxicology.  Her research interests include pulmonary toxicology.

Mary E. McAsey, Ph.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of research for the obstetrics and gynecology department, joined the SIU faculty in 1988.  She completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at the University of Tucson (1996).  She earned her doctoral degree at the University of Arizona (1994).  Her research is focused on biologically based therapies to enhance the effectiveness of current treatments for cervical and ovarian cancers.

Yin-Yuan Mo, Ph.D., associate professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, joined the SIU faculty in 2004.  He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in microbiology and earned his doctoral degree at Washington State University (1994, 1991).  Mo’s research is focused on understanding the basis of tumor drug resistance.

Laura L. Murphy, Ph.D., professor of physiology, joined the SIU faculty in Carbondale in 1987.  She earned her doctoral degree at the Medical College of Georgia (1983).  Her research is focused on the use of ginseng in preventing and treating breast cancer.

Daotai Nie, Ph.D., assistant professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, joined the SIU faculty in 2005.  He completed a fellowship in radiation oncology at Wayne State University School of Medicine (2000).  Nie earned his doctoral degree at the University of South Carolina (1997).  His research is focused on tumor growth and metastasis in bone, prostate and breast cancers.

Dr. Elizabeth A. Peralta, associate professor of surgery, joined the SIU faculty in 2000.  She completed a three-year fellowship in surgical oncology at the City of Hope National Medical Center (2000).  Peralta is board certified in surgery.  She specializes in treating breast cancers.  Her research is focused on the treatment and prevention of breast cancer with non-antioxidant analogues of vitamin E and ginsenosides. 

Dr. Michael R. Pranzatelli, professor of pediatric neurology, chief of child and adolescent neurology and director of the National Pediatric Myoclonus Center, joined the SIU faculty in 1999.  He was a research fellow in neuropharmacology and neurology at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles at the University of Southern California (1982-85).  Pranzatelli is board certified in pediatrics, psychiatry and neurology.  He specializes in treating childhood neuroblastoma and paraneoplastic syndrome.  His research is focused on the neuroimmunology of paraneoplastic disorders. 

Vickram Ramkumar, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology, joined the SIU faculty in 1992.  He was a research associate in cardiology at Duke University Medical Center (1986-1992).  Ramkumar earned his doctoral degree from the University of Maryland (1986).  His research is focused on the molecular pharmacology of adenosine receptors in cardiovascular and auditory systems and cellular signal transduction processes.

Dr. Krishna A. Rao, Ph.D., assistant professor of hematology and oncology, joined the SIU faculty in 2002.  He earned his doctoral degree in pathology at the University of Washington (2002) and completed a fellowship in hematology/medical oncology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (1998).  Rao is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology.  His research is focused on peripheral blood stem cell transplants and the treatment of breast cancer.

Sophia Ran, Ph.D., assistant professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, joined the SIU faculty in 2003.  She completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Hospital for Sick Children (1992) and the University of Alabama (1991).  Ran earned her doctoral degree at the Weizman Institute of Science (1989).  Her research is focused on why metastasis is the major cause of mortality from cancer.

Dr. Laura Q. Rogers, associate professor of internal medicine, joined the SIU faculty in 2000.  She completed a three-year faculty development fellowship program in general internal medicine from the University of North Carolina (1990) and a master’s of public health at the University of South Carolina (2000).  Rogers is board certified in internal medicine.  She is studying exercise promotion and the effects of exercise in cancer survivors.

Rita A. Trammell, Ph.D., assistant professor of internal medicine, joined the SIU faculty in 1995.  She earned her doctoral degree in medical microbiology and immunology from SIU School of Medicine (1995).  Her research is focused on antitumor immune response.

Kounosuke Watabe, Ph.D., professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology, joined the SIU faculty in 1985.  He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona (1985).  Watabe earned his doctoral degree at Kyoto University (1981).  His research is focused on molecular mechanism of tumor metastasis, especially in breast, lung and prostate cancers.

Andrew C. Wilber, Ph.D., assistant professor of urology, joined the SIU faculty in 2008.  He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in experimental hematology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (2007).  Wilber earned his doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota (2006).  His research is focused on applying molecular genetic methods to the treatment of bladder and prostate cancer.

Richard A. Woo, Ph.D., assistant professor of surgery, joined the SIU faculty in 2007.  He completed a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in molecular oncology at Hong Kong University (2005).  He earned his doctoral degree at the University of Calgary (1995).  His research interest includes therapies which may prevent cancer.

7/10/08