Cell Cycle & Cancer Biology Research Program

The Cell Cycle & Cancer Biology Research Program focuses on basic biological processes that control cell growth and cell division. Researchers within this program use cutting-edge technologies in molecular biology, genetics, and advanced microscopy to investigate the factors that regulate genome stability in experimental systems such as budding yeast, Xenopus laevis, mouse,  zebrafish, and cultured mammalian cells.

The contributions made by members of CCCB in illuminating the normal pathways of cell division and the malfunctions that lead to chromosome abnormalities have important implications for human diseases including birth defects and cancer.

The members of CCCB place strong emphasis on research training of students and postdoctoral fellows.

The overall goals of the Cell Cycle & Cancer Biology Research Program at OMRF are twofold. The first is to advance research into fundamental and translational science that will further basic understanding of organismal, cell, and molecular biology and will enhance human health. The second is to promote the development of the most creative minds to become the next generation of scientists. Both of these goals are best achieved when diverse members contribute, when participants at all educational levels and all backgrounds are appreciated, and when all individuals feel safe, valued, and fully respected.

Within the Cell Cycle & Cancer Biology Research Program, we will:

• Refuse to tolerate discrimination or harassment for any reason (including but not limited to race, sex, appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or diverse physical and neurological traits).​
• Use kindness and patience when communicating within and outside the department.
• Maintain a wholly professional, non-demeaning, and friendly environment.​
• Always provide criticism and feedback in a constructive, positive manner.
• Ensure that all our discussions are fully inclusive. We will make certain that all individuals have the opportunity to express their views. We will refuse to permit individuals to dominate the conversation or talk over others.
• Create goals and timelines and objectively assess progress within the program for increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Diversity: Diversity is an essential asset to the department and allows us to benefit from the unique experiences of all department members. These experiences may lead to differences in opinion, belief, or outlook, but we are determined that these differences will not compromise our environment of mutual respect. As a scientific organization, our discussions will be data-driven and follow scientific reasoning. The Cell Cycle & Cancer Biology Research Program enthusiastically encourages individuals from historically marginalized communities and from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to join us.

Equity: Our department values input from members at all levels, including students at all stages of their careers, technicians and other support staff, postdoctoral trainees, and faculty at all levels. We ensure equitable access for department members at all levels to all training, educational, and research opportunities in the department. We will not tolerate discrimination for any reason.

Inclusion: The department will be a welcoming environment for members at all levels. We welcome new members and visiting researchers and share with them our expertise, protocols, and equipment. We will not tolerate harassment of any kind.

Anyone feeling uncomfortable for any reason should contact their supervisor, OMRF HR (Human_Resources@omrf.org, 405-271-7430, E-203), OMRF General Counsel Adam Cohen (Adam-Cohen@omrf.org, 405-271-7159, E-207), or make a report through the Ethics Point portal or hotline.

We realize that differences that make us better as a group can occasionally lead to misunderstandings. These problems are most efficiently resolved by open communication, frank discussion and mutual respect.

2024

Park J, Kirkland JG. The role of the Polybromo-associated BAF complex in development. Biochem Cell Biol, 2024 November, PMID: 39541575

Bergwell M, Park J, Kirkland JG. Differential modulation of polycomb-associated histone marks by cBAF, pBAF, and gBAF complexes. Life Sci Alliance 7, 2024 August, PMID: 39209535, PMCID: PMC11361369

Mian Y, Wang L, Keikhosravi A, Guo K, Misteli T, Arda HE, Finn EH. Cell type- and transcription-independent spatial proximity between enhancers and promoters. Mol Biol Cell:mbcE24020082, 2024 May, PMID: 38717453, PMCID: PMC11244156

Evatt JM, Sadli AD, Rapacz BK, Chuong HH, Meyer RE, Ridenour JB, Donczew R, Dawson DS. Centromere pairing enables correct segregation of meiotic chromosomes. Curr Biol, 2024 April, PMID: 38670094, PMCID: PMC11111343

Rankin BD, Rankin S. The MCM2-7 Complex: Roles beyond DNA Unwinding. Biology (Basel) 13, 2024 April, PMID: 38666870, PMCID: PMC11048021

Noble TD, Sansam CG, Wittig KA, Majchrzycka B, Sansam CL. Cell Cycle-Dependent TICRR/TRESLIN and MTBP Chromatin Binding Mechanisms and Patterns. bioRxiv, 2024 February, PMID: 38370757, PMCID: PMC10871258

Carbajal A, Gryniuk I, de Castro RO, Pezza RJ. Efficient Enrichment of Synchronized Mouse Spermatocytes Suitable for Genome-Wide Analysis. Methods Mol Biol 2818:65-80, 2024 January, PMID: 39126467

de Almeida LP, Lee CY, Carbajal A, de Castro RO, Pezza RJ. Visualization and Quantification of Rapid Chromosome Movements at Early Stages of Mouse Meiosis. Methods Mol Biol 2818:171-177, 2024 January, PMID: 39126474

Chuong HH, Evatt JM, Dawson DS. Dynamic Live Cell Imaging of Budding Yeast Meiosis. Methods Mol Biol 2818:161-169, 2024 January, PMID: 39126473

2023

Schoen JR, Chen J, Rankin S. The intrinsically disordered tail of ESCO1 binds DNA in a charge-dependent manner. bioRxiv, 2023 December, PMID: 38106185, PMCID: PMC10723360

Chen J, Floyd EN, Dawson DS, Rankin S. Cornelia de Lange Syndrome mutations in SMC1A cause cohesion defects in yeast. Genetics 225, 2023 October, PMID: 37650609, PMCID: PMC10550314

Roe MM, Do T, Turner S, Jevitt AM, Chlebicz M, White K, Oomens AGP, Rankin S, Kovats S, Gappa-Fahlenkamp H. Blood myeloid cells differentiate to lung resident cells and respond to pathogen stimuli in a 3D human tissue-engineered lung model. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 11:1212230, 2023 July, PMID: 37485324, PMCID: PMC10361305

Dawson DB, Lewis V, Fletcher TL, Scofield RH. Perspective: Developing Future Veterans Affairs Scientists Through a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program. Health Equity 7:342-345, 2023 May, PMID: 37284528, PMCID: PMC10240330

Meyer RE, Sartin A, Gish M, Harsha J, Wilkie E, Haworth D, LaVictoire R, Alberola I, Chuong HH, Gorbsky GJ, Dawson DS. Polyploid yeast are dependent on elevated levels of Mps1 for successful chromosome segregation. bioRxiv, 2023 January, PMID: 36712123, PMCID: PMC9882063

Jevitt AM, Rankin BD, Chen J, Rankin S. The cohesin modifier ESCO2 is stable during DNA replication. Chromosome Res 31:6, 2023 January, PMID: 36708487, PMCID: PMC9884251

Gary J. Gorbsky, Ph.D.
WH and Betty Phelps Chair in Developmental Biology
Chair, Cell Cycle & Cancer Biology
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
825 NE 13th Street, MS 48
Oklahoma City, OK 73104

Phone: (405) 271-8168
Fax: (405) 271-7312
Email: gary-gorbsky@omrf.org