LOPA MISHRA has decided to leave MD Anderson Cancer Center, effective Aug. 31.
Mishra joined MD Anderson in December 2009 as professor and chair of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. In 2010, she was named holder of the Del & Dennis McCarthy Distinguished Professorship. Mishra also serves as associate director of the Texas Digestive Diseases Center.
During Mishra’s tenure, the department grew from one clinical program to eight programs in GI cancers.
In 2013, Gastrointestinal Cancer Program was awarded an “exceptional-outstanding” score by NCI as part of MD Anderson’s cancer center support grant. Mishra also initiated the first MD Anderson Global Academic Program with sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa.
Mishra’s research has focused on targeting liver and GI cancers using the TGF-beta signaling pathway and stem-like tumor initiating cells. Using mouse and human genetic studies, her team identified a group of liver and GI stem cell proteins crucial for TGF-beta signaling and modulation of human GI cancers and Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome. Studies have yielded insights into the origins of hepatocellular carcinoma, 40 percent of which are clonal and could arise from STICs. Her research has led to more than 80 original articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Mishra has received many honors including: American Gastroenterological Association Award for Top Women in Gastroenterology (2008), Funderburg Scholar in Gastric Cancer (2003-05), Betty and Harry Myerberg Award for Excellence in Research in Liver Development (1998), Elisabeth and John Cox Award for Innovative Clinical Therapy of Esophageal Cancer (1996), USV Industry New Investigator Award (1995) and the Stuart Mill Prize in Tropical Medicine (1981).
Marta Davila will serve as chair ad interim.
Davila earned her medical degree from Harvard and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of California, San Francisco. Her first faculty appointment was as assistant professor at Stanford Medical School.
She joined MD Anderson in 2004 as associate professor, and was promoted to professor in 2010. In 2014 Davila was named medical director of endoscopy. From 2007 to 2009, she served as interim deputy chair.
