Faculty Advisor, Women’s Health Multidisciplinary Consortium
Research Interests
- Endometrial cancer
- Obesity-related cancer development
- Hereditary cancers (Lynch syndrome)
- Environmental exposures in cancer risk
My lab is focused on cancers that form in the lining of the uterus (endometrium). In contrast to almost all other cancer types, endometrial cancer incidence and mortality continue to increase at an alarming rate. Yet, endometrial cancer remains an understudied disease. To change these trends, our research has a particular emphasis on cancer interception (prevention). The Yates lab is interested in the earliest molecular changes that occur in the endometrium during cancer development related to obesity and hereditary DNA mismatch repair defects. In parallel with human tissue-based studies, our team has developed an extensive suite of powerful preclinical tools (rodent models, organoids, and novel cell lines) to enable research to delineate mechanisms of endometrial cancer development. The Yates lab has also implemented the use of spatial biology platforms to elucidate the biology of endometrial premalignancy in clinical specimens. Our longer-term goal is to use these tools to define mechanisms related to environmental factors (obesity, hormones, and exposures linked with social determinants of health) that influence endometrial cancer development and disparities. Our research ultimately aims to intercept cancer using pharmacologic agents to prevent, block, or reverse endometrial cancer development and improve outcomes for women.
Awards and Honors
President’s Faculty Excellence Award in Cancer Prevention or Outreach, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022
Faculty Recognition Award, University of Texas, MD Anderson, UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2022
Faculty Educator of the Quarter, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020
Faculty Recognition Award, University of Texas, MD Anderson, UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2019
Publications link for Pubmed
