Our team represents experts from some of the leading cancer treatment and research institutions including Baylor College of Medicine, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Through our collaborative approach we bring together leading researchers and diverse approaches to provide innovative strategies for effective cancer immunotherapy.
Members
Dr. William K. Decker, Ph.D.
Dr. William Decker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology & Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine. He leads our highly skilled team of researchers dedicated to applying cutting edge science to the immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer. He received a BS in Biology from Tufts University and a PhD in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Matthew M. Halpert, Ph.D.
Dr. Matthew Halpert joined Dr. Decker's research team in 2011, and some of his work underpins the strategies our team is pursuing in the clinic. His background in immunology aids the group in both optimizing current strategies and developing next generation approaches. Dr. Halpert received his BS in Biology from Southwestern University and his PhD in Immunology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr.Vanaja Konduri, Ph.D.
Dr. Vanaja Konduri joined Dr. Decker's research team in 2012, bringing her impressive technical abilities and keen biological instincts. In addition to cancer, she is also adapting immunotherapeutic techniqes for the treatment of neglected tropical diseases and HIV. Dr. Konduri received a BS in Agricultural Sciences from Andhra Pradesh University and a PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.
Dr. Ratan D. Bhardwaj is the Chief of Pedatric Neurosurgery at Palm Beach Children's Hospital in West Palm, Beach, Florida. Dr. Bhardwaj received his PhD from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm Sweden, his MD degree from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, and performed his Pedatric Neurosurgery fellowship at Rady Children's Hospital In San Diego, CA.
Dr. Ratan Bhardwaj, M.D., Ph. D
Dr. Vinod Ravi, M.D.
Dr. Vinod Ravi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He has several awards to his name including 'Outstanding Academic Achievment', 'Humanitarian Award', and 'Best Basic Science Research'. He believes that a more robust and targeted immunotherapeutic approach will be key in defeating many types of cancer. Dr. Ravi received his MD degree from the University of Kerala and his medical oncology fellowship at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Dr. Ravi's Faculty Page at MD Anderson
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Collaborators
In Memoriam - Dr. Robert Arceci, MD, PhD, Bob held the positions of Professor and Director of the Ronald A. Matricaria Center for Personalized Medicine at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. He was a world-renowned pediatric oncologist with interest in a wide variety of deadly pediatric cancers and a tremendous proponent of personalized vaccine therapies. Bob was taken from us on June 8, 2015 in a tragic motorcycle accident. Ride on, Bob.
Dr. Jim Willerson, MD, President , Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas. Dr. Willerson is interested in the treatment of cardiac sarcoma, a rare but deadly primary tumor of the heart.
Dr. William Fisher, MD, Professor of Surgery and Director, Elkins Pancreas Center. Dr. Fisher is a world-renowned surgeon who specializes in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, also known as pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Robert Benjamin, MD, P. H. and Fay E. Robinson Distinguished Professor, Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Benjamin is interested in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.
Dr. Cathy Yao, MD, PhD, Professor of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Dr. Yao is interested in treating pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Amar Safdar, MD, Director, Transplant Infectious Diseases, Langone Medical Center of the New York University, New York, NY. Dr. Safdar is interested in vaccinating immunosuppressed cancer patients against common infectious diseases that cause severe morbidity and mortality among this population.
Dr. Monika Leja, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Leja is interested in the treatment of cardiac sarcoma.
Dr. Nicole Northrup, DVM, Associate Professor, University of Georgia Veterinary College of Medicine, Athens, Georgia. Dr. Northrup is interested in treating dogs and cats with cancer.
Dr. Philip Schissler, DVM, Veterinary Neurological Center, Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Schissler is also interested in treating dogs with brain cancers.