Research Faculty

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.

Dr. Christopher R. Cogle is Chief Medical Officer for Florida Medicaid, Professor at the University of Florida, and Founding Director of the Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. His work spans pioneering discoveries in blood stem cells to first-in-human clinical trials, alongside shaping innovative health policies. Dr. Cogle’s recognitions by the Harvard Business School, American Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Milbank Memorial Fund, and the National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Fellowship highlight his impact in bridging the gap between research and societal change.

As an associate professor of medicine and breast cancer specialist in the University of Florida Division of Hematology and Oncology, my passion lies in the intersection of patient care and groundbreaking research. As an oncologist, my primary focus is on breast cancer, and I’ve dedicated my career to improving treatment options for patients. I am aware of the limitations of conventional therapies, particularly when it comes to addressing inflammatory breast cancer.

In my role, I actively engage in research aimed at developing more effective breast cancer treatments through innovative approaches. These experiments enable us to develop and refine novel treatment strategies that hold the promise of providing better outcomes for our patients. Beyond my work in breast cancer, I am also deeply committed to the field of lysosomal storage diseases. I played an instrumental role in establishing the pediatric and adult multidisciplinary lysosomal storage disease clinic at UF, which I currently direct. Here, I provide compassionate care to patients with these conditions and actively engage in clinical trials focused on gene replacement, substrate reduction and enzyme replacement therapies.

My research extends beyond the lab as well. I collaborate closely with esteemed investigators at UF to conduct studies on patient-derived xenograft tumors. These models allow us to tailor drug testing in an individualized manner, all with the ultimate goal of better serving our patients.

My interests extend even further into the realm of physician-scientist pursuits. I am deeply invested in the development of gene and stem cell therapies, with a particular emphasis on Sanfilippo syndrome Type B and other inherited disorders. In the pursuit of innovative treatments, I also possess extensive experience in utilizing viral vectors for gene therapy and harnessing the power of stem cells for gene delivery and regenerative approaches to disease treatment.

Ultimately, my dedication to patient care and advancing medical science drives every aspect of my work. It is my privilege to be a part of the medical community at UF, and I am committed to making a meaningful impact on the lives of those I serve.

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 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.

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 aiming to understand how epigenetics alterations are affecting the pathogenesis of myeloma and lymphomas.

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.

My name is Bently Doonan, MD, and I am an assistant professor in the University of Florida Division of Hematology & Oncology. I received both my Master of Biomedical Sciences, specialization in cancer immunology, and my medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Following medical school, I completed an internal medicine residency and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at UF. During my time at UF, I took on multiple leadership roles, including chief resident of internal medicine, curriculum development and quality and efficiency.

I am board certified in internal medicine and oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and an active member of multiple professional organizations, including the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research.

My clinical and research interests focus on melanoma, immunotherapy development and design, brain metastases and identification of microenvironment targets to induce an immunogenic response in advanced metastatic disease.

As a physician, my goal is to improve the lives of patients with advanced skin cancer and brain metastases through novel treatment approaches using immunotherapy to minimize toxicity and maximize potential benefits. I am also passionate about cancer research and actively design and develop clinical trials for patients with unmet needs in cancer.

During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and rooting on the Gators.

I completed my residency training at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA in a combined residency for both internal medicine and pediatrics where I was also Chief Resident. I then completed my specialty training in hematology and oncology at UF where I was also Chief Fellow. I chose to specialize in hematology and oncology due to the evolving landscape of immunotherapy and the need to improve care for the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population. I specialize in treating sarcomas – a rare cancer that affects the bones and soft tissues. As Director of the AYA Cancer Program, I work closely with our colleagues in Pediatric Oncology to optimize care for our AYA patients aged 15-45.

I aim to cure cancer using novel immunotherapies. As I believe we are close to this goal, I aim to decrease the morbidity and mortality of surgical interventions for cancer by developing therapies to work together with immunotherapy for advanced disease. We research various nanoparticles to accomplish this goal in my lab.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our 7 children serving in church, playing board games, sports, and movie nights!