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, Florida Medicaid’s Chief Medical Officer and Professor of Medicine at the University of Florida, is a transformative force in health. His pioneering work spans discoveries in basic biology of blood stem cells and leukemia to first-in-human clinical trials for people with cancer and heart diseases, alongside shaping innovative policies in state health and healthcare financing. With over 140 peer-reviewed publications, 70 mentees globally, and two documentaries, Dr. Cogle’s influence extends beyond academia. Recognized by prestigious organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Milbank Memorial Foundation, and the National Academy of Medicine, his accolades highlight his impact in bridging the gap between research and societal change. Dr. Cogle’s career embodies an unwavering commitment to redefining the future of medicine.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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.