Benjamin Deneen, PhD, Principal Investigator

I received my B.S. in Genetics from the University of California Davis, where I studied fly meiosis in Dr. Scott Hawley’s laboratory. I completed my Ph.D. at UCLA working in the laboratory of Dr. Chris Denny, where I studied the EWS/FLI1 translocation, an aberrant transcription factor that drives Ewing’s Sarcoma. For my post-doctoral studies, I shifted my focus to developmental neurobiology and worked in Dr. David Anderson’s laboratory at Cal-Tech. During my post-doc I identified key transcriptional regulators that control developmental gliogenesis. In January 2009 I started my laboratory at the Baylor College of Medicine, in the Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine and Department of Neuroscience. I am interested in all things related to glial biology and have assembled an amazing team of students, post-docs, and technicians who share my passion for all things glial!

Hsiao-Chi Eileen Chen, MS, Graduate Student

I received my B.S. and M.S. from National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. My M.S. thesis studied the role of a mitochondria protein in the cell growth of human gastric cancer cells. Before moving to Houston, I worked at Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, where I studied the regulation of necroptosis in macrophages. These works motivate me to explore the cross-talk between tumor and normal cells in tumor microenvironment. I began my Ph.D. at Baylor College of Medicine in July 2018, and joined Dr. Deneen’s lab in early 2019. Since CNS system has its unique environment, my research goals aim to clarify the influence of tumor-host interactions and the developmental process on brain tumor tumorigenesis.

Sanjana Murali, MS, Graduate Student

I received my Bachelor’s in Biotechnology from India. My interest in research began when I did a summer internship at Tel Aviv University in Israel studying the role of E3 ligase in neurodegeneration. I moved to the United States to pursue a Master’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University. Following graduation, I worked at Hopkins studying the role of various transcription factors in epithelial development and tumorigenesis. I joined BCM in Fall 2020 and subsequently the lab of Dr. Deneen to study the transcriptional control of astrocyte structure and function. 

Brittney Lozzi, Graduate Student

I received my B.S. in Biological Sciences from Salisbury University in Maryland. At Salisbury I worked with Les & Patti Erickson studying ubiquitin signaling in stress response mechanisms. After graduating I joined the Deneen lab as a technician where I studied the transcription factor codes that specify astrocyte heterogeneity, and worked to establish the labs sequencing and bioinformatics pipelines. In 2020 I started graduate school at BCM in the Genetics & Genomics program. I am interested in studying the epigenetic modifications that drive tumor development and progression in glioma. 

Peihao He, Graduate Student

I received B.S. in Pharmacology from Zhejiang University, China, where I focused on constructing high-throughput small-molecule screen systems for potential cancer inhibitors in Dr. Ji Cao’s lab. I became interested in brain tumor research during an internship at Dr. Nathanson’s lab at UCLA, where I studied the BCl-2 family’s role in GBM’s resistance to standard treatment. GBM is the most aggressive cancer that begins in the brain and there are still lots of stuff unknown about GBM’s initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. All these challenges motivate me to study brain tumors. I started at Baylor College of Medicine in the Cancer and Cell Biology program in 2021 and joined Dr. Deneen’s lab in early 2022. With lab’s exciting techniques and mouse models, I want to figure out the environmental and internal processes that brain tumors employ to initiate and progress.

Zhung-Fu Lee, MS, Graduate Student

I received my Bachelor of Pharmacy from Taipei Medical University. Due to my interest in neuroscience, I focused on altered pain sensation in Alzheimer's Disease during my Master's study at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. With my background in pharmacy and neuroscience, I desire to answer intriguing questions about neurological disorders. To achieve my goal, I enrolled in the Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program at Baylor College of Medicine in 2021. I joined Dr. Deneen's lab to decipher the intersection between neuroscience and glioma biology. Through my effort, I hope that my research could benefit the treatment of notorious cancer one day. When I am not thinking of science, I enjoy my time playing badminton.

Malcolm McDonald, Graduate Student

I received my B.S. in Neuroscience from Duke University. After graduation, I worked at MD Anderson in the lab of Frederick Lang engineering exosomes for anti-glioma microRNA delivery. In 2019, I joined the Baylor M.D./Ph.D. program and after two years of medical school, I joined the Development, Disease Models, and Therapeutics graduate program. In 2022, I joined the Deneen lab and the Rao lab. I am most interested in understanding the interactions between gliomas, neurons, and the immune system in the context of human and mouse tumors and am clinically interested in neurosurgery.

Chenyu Mao, Graduate Student

I received my B.S. from Southern University of Science and Technology in China, where I focused on Wnt signaling pathway in Colorectal Cancer. Then I went to University of Pennsylvania to pursue a Master of Biotechnology, during which I studied on the role of brain extracellular matrix in breast brain metastasis. I enrolled in the Cancer and Cell Biology graduate program at BCM in July 2023 and joined Dr. Deneen’s lab in March 2024. I am interested in the crosstalk between central nervous system and brain cancer tumorigenesis.

Ehson Maleki, Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am a freshman undergraduate student at the University of Houston, Honors College. I am majoring in Honors Biochemistry on the pre-medical pathway and hope to also obtain a minor in Spanish. In the Summer of 2021, I was able to do a wonderful research internship under Navish Bosquez studying the survival rate of different glial cells in the deletion of Nkx6.1 from astrocytes within the lumbar spinal cord. I am super interested in studying the transcription factor Nkx6.1 and am now a volunteer in the lab. I look forward to learning much about research and glial cells from this team of talented individuals.

Priyanka Patel, Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am an undergraduate student at Rice University, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Global Health Technologies and Biochemistry. I am currently assisting Sanjana Murali on her research focused on elucidating the role of the transcription factor NFIX in astrocyte function in the adult brain. I am excited to delve into neuroscience research and work with this team of talented individuals!

Kavitha Rajendran, MS, Lab Manager

I received my Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University, Philadelphia PA. In 2018, I joined this enthusiastic group of scientists and provide management and research support.

Kaitlyn Sanchez, BSA, Research Technician

I received my B.S.A in Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2023, I joined the Deneen lab and work to support the talented researchers in their studies within the lab.