Research Faculty

Richard L Bennett

Richard L Bennett PhD

Research Assistant Professor
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY-ONCOL
Phone: (352) 273-8333
Mailing Address:
ROOM 264
PO BOX 103633
2033 MOWRY ROAD
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Physical Address:
CANCER AND GENETICS RESEARCH COMPLEX, ROOM 264
2033 MOWRY RD
GAINESVILLE FL 326103010

I first became interested in molecular and cellular biology as an undergraduate at Kalamazoo College, and later, as a graduate student at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, I decided to devote my career to researching the molecular basis of cancer. This has provided me with the opportunity to study interesting questions that are both fundamental to biology and also of significance to our society. After graduate school, I worked first as a post-doctoral fellow and then as a Research Assistant Professor to determine the role of the interferon-inducible, dsRNA-activated protein kinase PKR in tumorigenesis. In 2016 I had the opportunity to join the Research group of Jonathan Licht, M.D. to study the role of chromatin dynamics in cancer. My projects in the Licht lab include: characterizing how histone mutations that disrupt nucleosome structure may cause changes in gene expression that drive the tumorigenic phenotype, analyzing the mechanism by which an activating mutation of the histone methyltransferase NSD2 dysregulates the chromatin landscape to drive myeloma or ALL and identifying new genetic vulnerabilities in uveal melanoma.

Research Interests:
  • Biochemistry and Cell Biology
  • Cancer
  • Cancer Genetics
  • Cell signaling pathways
  • Gene expression
  • Regulation of Gene Expression
Christopher R Cogle

Christopher R Cogle M.D.

Professor
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Phone: (352) 273-7832
Mailing Address:
PO Box 100278
1600 SW ARCHER RD
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Physical Address:
1200 NEWELL DR # 220
PUGH HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32610

Christopher R. Cogle, M.D. is a practicing oncologist, distinguished scientist, and leader in health policy with focus on cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Cogle’s clinic is designated a Center of Excellence by the MDS Foundation. Dr. Cogle has been named a Scholar in Clinical Research by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In 2020, the National Academy of Medicine distinguished Dr. Cogle as an Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine Scholar.

Accomplishments:
  • Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine Scholar
    2020 · National Academy of Medicine
  • Clinical Trials Award
    2018 · UF Health Cancer Center
  • Research Prize
    2016 · Harvard Business School Precision Trials Challenge
  • Research Prize
    2016 · UF Department of Medicine
  • Research Prize
    2014 · UF Department of Medicine
  • Customer Service Key Award for Excellent Patient Care
    2013 · UF Health Shands Hospital
  • Bench to Bedside Award
    2012 · University of Florida
  • Research Award
    2012 · UF Department of Medicine
  • Scholar in Clinical Research
    2012 · Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
  • Best in Research
    2011 · University of Florida
  • Center of Excellence in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
    2009 · MDS Foundation
  • Excellence in Teaching Award
    2008 · University of Florida
  • Best in Research
    2006 · University of Florida
  • Top 10 US Young Stem Cell Scientist
    2005 · British Council
  • First Prize in Research
    2004 · Joint Cancer Conference of the Florida Universities
  • Young Investor Award
    2003 · American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • NIH Loan Repayment Award
    2002 · NIH
  • Alpha Omega Alpha
    1998 · Alpha Omega Alpha
  • Vigil Honor
    1989 · Order of the Arrow
  • Eagle Scout
    1987 · Boy Scouts of America
Research Summary:

Christopher R. Cogle, M.D. is a physician and scientist with research focus on cancer and health policy. In his early career Dr. Cogle discovered that blood stem cells make blood vessels and used that biology to invent new therapeutics and diagnostics for people with cancer and heart disease. In his mid career, as a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Scholar in Clinical Research, he began translating research discoveries into investigator-initiated clinical trials. Dr. Cogle has also made major discoveries in cancer epidemiology and was elected to lead Florida’s cancer prevention and control efforts at the state level, producing the Florida Cancer Plan, leading statewide campaigns for improved cancer prevention and control, and advising the Florida Legislature, Florida Secretary of Health, and Florida Governor on evidence-based strategies to reduce the state’s cancer burden. In 2020, Dr. Cogle was selected by the National Academy of Medicine as an Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine Scholar. As a Scholar he works to increase access to high quality health care by studying and improving health policies of government entities and health systems.

Research Interests:
  • Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
  • Bone marrow transplantation
  • Cancer
  • Cancer Genetics
  • Cancer Informatics
  • Cancer Screening
  • Cancer prevention
  • Digital Health
  • Genetics
  • Haplo-identical Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Health Outcomes
  • Health Policy
  • Health outcomes research
  • Healthcare policies
  • Leukemia
  • Population Health
  • Targeted Cancer Therapy
  • Telehealth
  • health services research
Coy Heldermon

Coy Heldermon M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Phone: (352) 273-7832
Mailing Address:
1600 SW ARCHER RD
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Physical Address:
1600 SW ARCHER RD
GAINESVILLE FL 32610

Dr. Heldermon is an associate professor of medicine, board certified medical oncologist with expertise in the treatment of breast cancer. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. His research expertise is in the use of gene replacement and stem cell therapies for the treatment of inherited disorders such as lysosomal storage diseases. He also studies the spread of stem cells from maternal or malignant sources using mouse models.

Frederic J Kaye

Frederic J Kaye M.D.

Professor
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Phone: (352) 273-7832
Email: fkaye@ufl.edu
Mailing Address:
PO Box 100278
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Physical Address:
2033 MOWRY RD
GAINESVILLE FL 32610

Dr. Kaye is a professor of medicine, medical director of the thoracic oncology program and director of the lung cancer center within the division of hematology and oncology. He is a clinical and basic science investigator with a focus on thoracic malignancies. Dr. Kay is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society, and serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Jonathan D Licht

Jonathan D Licht MD

UF Health Cancer Center Director And The Marshall E. Rinker Senior Chair
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY-ONCOL
Phone: (352) 273-8143
Mailing Address:
PO Box 103633
2033 MOWRY RD STE 145
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Physical Address:
2033 MOWRY RD STE 145
GAINESVILLE FL 32610

Dr. Licht is the director of the UF Health Cancer Center, holding the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Chair.

NCI funded for 30 years, Dr. Licht is also Principal Investigator of a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Specialized Center of Research. He is an Associate Editor of Oncogene and serves on the editorial boards of Cancer Discovery, Cancer Cell, Cancer Research and Clinical Cancer Research. Dr. Licht is chair of the Taskforce for Hematological Malignancies of AACR, and is co-chair of the Medical/Scientific Board of the LLS. Dr. Licht has published over 200 articles, reviews and book chapters and has mentored over 40 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and 20 faculty members. In 2021 he was the winner of the American Society of Hematology Basic Sciences Mentor Award.

Zhijian Qian

Zhijian Qian PhD

Professor, Pierre Chagnon Professor Of Cancer Research
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Phone: (352) 294-8984
Mailing Address:
PO Box 100278
GAINESVILLE FL 32610

Zhijian Qian Ph.D. joined Department of Medicine, at the University of Florida in April, 2018. Currently, he is a tenured full Professor. Before that, he had been serving as a tenured Associate Professor of medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago for several years.

Dr. Qian received his Ph.D. degree from Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, China, and then conducted postdoc training at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Chicago. He established his independent research laboratory in 2010 in the department of Medicine at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Qian is a scholar of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (2018) and Research of the year. His research has been supported by multiple RO1 grants from NIH and other private foundations.

Current Research Interests: The long-term goal of Qian laboratory is to understand the mechanisms that underlie the development of blood cancer with a focus on studying the genetic pathways that control the proliferation, survival and self-renewal of normal or leukemic hematopoietic stem cells, and to identify novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of myeloid malignant diseases. Current my lab research interests include 1) understanding molecular regulation of normal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and its leukemic transformation, 2) determining the role and mechanisms of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the development and maintenance of myeloid neoplasms, 3) understanding transcriptional, epigenetic and epitranscriptome regulation of normal hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis, 4) studying post-translational modifications of RNA m6A methylation regulators in cancer, and 5) developing novel targeted therapies for myeloid malignant diseases and solid tumors including lung and head-neck cancers.

Daphné Dupéré-Richer

Daphné Dupéré-Richer Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY-ONCOL
Phone: (352) 256-3151
Mailing Address:
PO Box 100276
GAINESVILLE FL 32610

I obtained a Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine from McGill University in Montréal focusing on mechanisms of resistance to histone deacetylase inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia. In January 2016, I joined the Licht laboratory. I am interested in understanding how loss of the histone demethylase KDM6A promotes tumorigenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). By the development of isogenic cell lines using CRISPR-mediated engineering, and by using a novel mouse model of MM where KDM6A is loss in the B-cell compartment, I am aiming to elucidate how KDM6A enzyme works and how its loss affects chromatin structure and gene expression.

Jianping Li

Jianping Li M.D.

Research Assistant Professor
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Phone: (352) 294-8457
Mailing Address:
2033 MOWRY RD RM 280E
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Physical Address:
2033 MOWRY RD RM 280E
GAINESVILLE FL 32610

I joined the Licht laboratory in July 2017 after a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, during which I worked on epigenetic effects on myeloid malignancies. My current research is focused on studying NSD2 mutations relevant to pediatric ALL and multiple myeloma. I am working to explore how the NSD2-E1099K mutation affects B cell development and the pathogenesis of ALL. Meanwhile, I am also working on the chemoresistance mechanism with NSD2 mutation in this system. Hopefully, these projects will provide more evidence for improving the clinical therapeutic strategies in ALL with NSD2 mutation.

Accomplishments:
  • Young Investigator of Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research
    2020 · Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research
  • Fellow of Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation
    2019 · Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation
  • Career Development Program Special Fellow Award of Leukemic & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
    2019 · Leukemic & Lymphoma Society
  • ASH Abstract Achievement Award
    2019 · American Society of Hematology
  • UFHCC Poster Presentation Winner
    2018 · University of Florida
  • ASH Abstract Achievement Award
    2018 · American Society of Hematology
  • Outstanding Poster for Basic Research of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami
    2017 · University of Miami
  • Award of the 8th Annual Postdoc Research Day poster presentation
    2017 · University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
  • ASH Abstract Achievement Award
    2016 · American Society of Hematology
Jixiu Shan

Jixiu Shan Ph.D.

Associate Scientist
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Phone: (352) 392-3364
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 100278
PO BOX 100245
Division of Hematology and Oncology
GAINESVILLE FL 32610

I earned my Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences by studying the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms of photosynthesis. I moved in the United States and studied the protein structure and function as a postdoctoral fellow in Kansas State University. Later I joined Dr. Thomas Yang’s Laboratory in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (UF College of Medicine) and studied the genetic and epigenetic molecular mechanisms of mammalian gene imprinting. To continue my endeavor in the study of the molecular mechanism that control mammalian gene expression, I then joined Dr. Michael S. Kilberg’s Laboratory at UF.

I became a member of the Licht laboratory on Aug. 1, 2020. Now I am studying the potential oncogenic functions of histone mutations.

Jason M Butler

Jason M Butler

Professor/Vice Chief Of Research
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Phone: (646) 280-7942
Email: j8338@ufl.edu
Mailing Address:
PO Box 100278
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Physical Address:
PO Box 100278
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Michael G Poulos

Michael G Poulos

AST PROF
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Phone: (352) 273-8486
Mailing Address:
PO BOX 103610
GAINESVILLE FL 326103610
Physical Address:
PO BOX 100278
Division of Hematology & Oncology
GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Pradeep Ramalingam

Pradeep Ramalingam

RES AST PROF
Department: MD-HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
Phone: (352) 273-7832
Physical Address:
P.O. Box 100278
Division of Hematology & Oncology
GAINESVILLE FL 32611