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HOUSTON ¨D Â鶹ӳ»­ MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced its 10th cohort of Andrew Sabin Family Fellows, comprised of 10 early career cancer researchers. Created to provide a dedicated source of funding for emerging clinician and scientist leaders, the Sabin Family Fellowship supports groundbreaking research that fuels MD Anderson¡¯s mission to end cancer. The program is supported by a $30 million endowment from the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, now celebrating its 10th year of funding cancer researchers.

¡°We are deeply grateful to Mr. Sabin and the foundation for supporting the transformative work of these remarkable individuals,¡± said , chief scientific officer at MD Anderson. ¡°The Sabin Family Fellowship encourages and rewards independent thinkers engaged in novel high-risk, high-impact research. In ways only possible at MD Anderson, these talented clinicians and scientists can leverage a robust, collaborative infrastructure to unlock the mysteries of cancer and translate those findings into bold research initiatives and novel therapeutics.¡±

The 2025 class of Sabin Family Fellows:

Basic/Translational Scientists

• Ruoyan Li, Ph.D., assistant professor, Systems Biology
• , assistant professor,
• , assistant professor, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Clinical Researchers

• , associate professor, Leukemia
• , assistant professor, Genitourinary Radiation Oncology
• , assistant professor, Leukemia

Physician-Scientists

• , assistant professor, Hematopoietic Biology and Malignancy
• , assistant professor, Surgical Oncology
• , assistant professor, Laboratory Medicine

Population/Quantitative Scientists

• , assistant professor, Health Services Research

Sabin Family Fellowship equips junior researchers
Established in 2015, the Sabin Family Fellowship addresses the critical need for research funding among promising junior faculty in the early stages of independent basic, clinical, translational and population science research. Each Sabin Family Fellow receives $100,000 over two years, allowing them to dedicate more time and energy to their work without the additional pressure of securing grants or other funding.

Every year, dozens of finalists undergo a rigorous external peer review process. This year, that process featured a panel of 27 internationally recognized experts led by MD Anderson faculty members. The award is chaired by , along with panel chairs ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and Notably, Arur, Wargo and Westin are past Sabin Family Fellows who are recognized as experts in the fields of genetics, immunotherapy, genomic medicine and gynecologic cancer.

¡°The groundbreaking work of the Sabin Family Fellows exemplifies MD Anderson¡¯s commitment to pioneering breakthrough research that advances our understanding of cancer, which translates into meaningful improvements for the lives of patients everywhere,¡± said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. ¡°We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Sabin and the foundation for their unwavering support over the past decade, which has fueled the innovative research of nearly 100 scientists, to date.¡±

Former Sabin Family Fellows pave impressive paths in cancer research
Past Sabin Family Fellows have made transformational discoveries and breakthroughs through their research, with many continuing their work at MD Anderson. Two examples include , chair of Systems Biology, and , vice president for Data Impact and Governance and chief data and analytics officer.

Navin was an inaugural Sabin Family Fellow in 2016 and has since co-created the , the world¡¯s largest and most comprehensive map of normal breast tissue. The Human Breast Cell Atlas profiled more than 714,000 cells to generate a comprehensive genetic map of normal breast tissue at the cellular level, providing an unprecedented understanding of mammary biology that may help identify therapeutic targets for breast cancer. Navin¡¯s laboratory continues to pioneer novel technologies in single-cell DNA and RNA sequencing as well as innovative computational and statistical methods for analyzing large-scale datasets. His team works closely with MD Anderson physicians to translate these technologies into the clinic, where they are poised to make a major impact on patients¡¯ health outcomes. Navin also serves as MD Anderson¡¯s director of the Single Cell Genomics Core (SCGC) and co-director of the Advanced Technology Genomics Core (ATGC).

Chung was a Sabin Family Fellow in 2020 and is leading groundbreaking data science research at MD Anderson. As a fellow, her research focused on using mathematical models to identify biologically relevant targets for radiation in patients with high-grade gliomas. Her research sought to enable early and pre-emptive adaptation and personalization of radiation treatment, a pursuit she has continued with her work developing digital twins for precision medicine. Chung was appointed as the institution¡¯s first chief data officer in 2021 and then as chief data and analytics officer in 2024, and she helped launch the Institute for Data Science in Oncology (IDSO) in 2023 as director of Data Science Development and Implementation. Her clinical practice treats patients with central nervous system malignancies and her computational imaging lab focuses on quantitative imaging and modeling of tumors and treatment toxicities to enable personalized cancer treatment. Chung leads institutional and international efforts to enable quantitative measurements for clinically impactful utilization and interpretation of data through a collaborative team science approach known as the Tumor Measurement Initiative (TMI) at MD Anderson and the Quantitative Medical Imaging Coalition as well as the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements Report Committee on Quantitative Imaging for Assessment of Response in Oncology.

¡°I am proud to support the incredible work of each of the Sabin Family Fellows, and I look forward to seeing all they will continue to achieve,¡± said Andrew Sabin, philanthropist and member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors. ¡°I believe this investment in the future of cancer research and care will enable MD Anderson to achieve its bold mission to end cancer.¡±