Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis (TMM) Research Program Members

Members of the TMM Program work to advance understanding of the role cancer’s microenvironment plays in the development and spread of the disease.  Through deeper and more nuanced insight of the microenvironment, our scientists hope to shed light on the risk of cancer progression and metastasis and help improve patient care at our Cancer Center and beyond. TMM members also work to develop new preventive and therapeutic cancer treatments that can lead to improved outcomes and potentially life-saving treatments. Members are highly collaborative and work with multiple investigators internally as well as at other research facilities, and with patient advocates in our Bronx catchment area.

Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis Research Program Leaders

Get to know the nationally known experts who lead our tumor microenvironment and metastasis team. They guide our efforts to eradicate cancer metastasis and save lives.

Maja H. Oktay, MD, PhD, MS

Co-Leader, Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center

Julio A. Aguirre-Ghiso, Ph.D.

Co-Leader, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis Program

Tumor Microenvironment & Metastasis Research Program Members

Our multidisciplinary team consists of leading metastatic cancer researchers, clinicians and specialists in various areas of biology and medicine. Together, they’re working to develop new pathways for cancer prevention and treatment.

Praveen Agrawal, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Pharmacology

Jonathan M. Backer, M.D.

Chair, Department of Molecular Pharmacology

Nir J. Barzilai, MD

Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Chair in Aging Research

Jinan Behnan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, The Leo M. Davidoff Department of Neurological Surgery

Anne R. Bresnick, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Postdoctoral Affairs

John S. Condeelis, Ph.D.

The Judith and Burton P. Resnick Chair in Translational Research

Dianne Cox, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Developmental & Molecular Biology

Antonio Di Cristofano, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Oncology

David R. Entenberg, Ph.D.

Co-Director, Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center

David R. Fooksman, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Pathology

Wenjun Guo, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Cell Biology

Rachel Hazan, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Pathology

Louis Hodgson, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Molecular Pharmacology

Keisuke Ito, M.D., Ph.D.

Director of Scientific Resources of the Stem Cell Institute

Georgios Karagiannis, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

Libusha Kelly, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology

David M. Loeb, MD, PhD

Professor, Pediatrics and Developmental and Molecular Biology

Maria Marianovich, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology

John C. McAuliffe, MD, PhD

Attending Physician, Hepatobiliary and Upper GI Surgery

Anne Muesch, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Developmental & Molecular Biology

Jessica M. Pastoriza, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery

Rebeca San Martin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology

Jeffrey E. Segall, Ph.D.

Betty and Sheldon Feinberg Senior Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research

Nicholas E. Sibinga, MD

Charles and Tamara Krasne Faculty Scholar in Cardiovascular Research

Maria S. Sosa, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Oncology

Brendon M. Stiles, MD

Chief, Divisions of Thoracic Surgery & Surgical Oncology

Vladislav Verkhusha, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Genetics

Daniel A. Weiser, MD

Medical Director, Intra-abdominal solid tumor program

Shanye Yin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology

Sofia de Oliveira, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Developmental & Molecular Biology