Andrew Kraft, M.D. Director Hollings Cancer Center

Andrew S. Kraft, M.D.
Director Hollings Cancer Center
Email: kraft@musc.edu
Phone: 843-792-8284
Location: Hollings Cancer Center 124H

Dr. Kraft, a medical oncologist and nationally recognized researcher, was appointed Director of Hollings Cancer Center in 2004. He leads HCC's research and administrative efforts. Dr. Kraft is a Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as well as Associate Dean of Oncologic Affairs at MUSC.  He also holds the distinguished William H. Folk Chair in Experimental Oncology.

His research focus is targeted in the areas of prostate cancer, sarcomas, and novel cancer drug development, and he has been continuously funded since 1990 from the NCI, Department of Defense and Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.
He has previous appointments at National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers in Colorado and Alabama, 
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Anthony J. Alberg, Ph.D. Associate Director of Prevention and Control

Dr. Anthony J. Alberg, formerly of The John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, has held the Blatt-Ness Chair in Oncology and the title of Associate Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at HCC since 2006.  He is also Professor of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology. Cancer prevention and control has been an undeveloped area of HCC, and Dr. Alberg is working to recruit a critical mass of researchers both externally and within MUSC.

He had been with the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health since 1999, but moved up the leadership ladder as the years passed.  In 2004, Dr. Alberg, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology also became the Co-Director of the Comstock Center for Public Health Research and Prevention at Johns Hopkins and served as Director of  Cancer Epidemiology.

Dr. Alberg’s primary research interests are in cigarette smoking, including the health effects of secondhand smoke, etiology of tobacco-associated malignancies, and tobacco prevention and control.  His additional interest in diet and cancer is reflected in recently completed systematic reviews of the evidence on 1) diet and cancers of the lung and nasopharynx and 2) multivitamin/mineral supplements for the prevention of chronic disease. 

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Daniel J. Fernandes, Ph.D., Associate Director of Translational Research

Daniel J. Fernandes, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Associate Director of Translational Research
Email: fernand@musc.edu
Phone: 843-792-1449
Location: Hollings Cancer 712

Daniel J. Fernandes, PhD, DSc, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, is Associate Director of Translational Research at HCC. His role includes assisting basic scientists in establishing direct links to clinical investigators who can assist in the translation of preclinical research; and in developing successful relationships with pharmaceutical companies to bring science forward to the clinical setting. 

Dr. Fernandes joined MUSC in 1993 as a Professor in the Department of Experimental Oncology. He also has held the positions of Professor and Chairman of the Department of Experimental Oncology; Co-Director and Associate Director for Basic Sciences at HCC; and Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

His research career has focused on the mechanisms of action and resistance of anticancer drugs, and on the development new anticancer agents. These studies led to the development of two FDA approved drugs, Fludarabine and Ethyol.

Dr. Fernandes' research has been continuously funded by the NCI for 30 years. He also serves as the principal investigator on a program project grant sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  This is a comprehensive, translational research program that integrates basic and clinical studies aimed at identifying the molecular changes that lead to the development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

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Marvella E. Ford, Ph.D. Associate Director of Cancer Disparities

Marvella E. Ford, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Cancer Disparities
Email: fordmar@musc.edu
Phone: 843-876-1116
Location: Hollings Cancer Center 124A

Dr. Marvella E. Ford, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics & Epidemiology, is Associate Director of Cancer Disparities at HCC. Her role includes developing a program to enhance community outreach efforts to address the critical problem of cancer disparities in the region. With key members of the community and the HCC, Dr. Ford has developed a model for community outreach that focuses on the long term goals of building trust and enhancing community relationships.

Dr. Ford is a noted researcher and behavioral scientist with extensive experience in conducting cancer screening studies in diverse populations of older adults. She has a strong track record of obtaining peer-reviewed federal funding to conduct these studies. She graduated from Cornell University in 1986 with a BS in Human Service Studies and earned her Masters in Social Work, Masters in Social Psychology, and PhD in Social Work and Psychology from the University of Michigan. Her Postdoctoral Fellowship in Public Health and Aging was also completed at the University of Michigan.

Prior to joining MUSC in 2006, Dr. Ford was Associate Research Scientist at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, MI and Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Houston Center for Quality Care and Utilization Studies at Baylor College of Medicine. Her recently published manuscripts are related to factors affecting cancer screening behavior among older African Americans and Caucasians; and to recruiting/retaining older African American men in cancer screening trials.

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Yusuf A. Hannun, M.D. Associate Director of Basic Sciences

Yusuf A. Hannun, M.D.
Associate Director of Basic Sciences
Email: hannun@musc.edu
Phone: 843-792-9318
Location: Basic Science Building 501A

Dr. Hannun is the Ralph F. Hirschman Professor of Biomedical Research and the Deputy Director of the Hollings Cancer Center and the Chair of the MUSC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.  Dr. Hannun provides broad leadership across the research spectrum at HCC. In 2006, he received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Science.  The Award, established in 1985, promotes awareness of the quality and breadth of scientific activity in the state and honors South Carolinians who make outstanding contributions to science.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Hannun’s research has focused on the study of lipids (fat molecules) and their role in cancer and cell regulation. With more than 320 publications, Dr. Hannun is a leading initiator and primary mover in the field of bioactive sphingolipids. His work has unlocked the secrets of sphingolipids and has established this area of research as a unique activity at MUSC and HCC.

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Carolyn E. Reed, M.D. Associate Director of Medical Affairs

Carolyn E. Reed, M.D.
Associate Director of Medical Affairs
Email: reedce@musc.edu
Phone:843-792-3362
Location: Clinical Sciences Building 418

Dr. Reed, Professor of Surgery and Associate Director of Medical Affairs at HCC, has served in a leadership capacity for the Center since its inception, including as Interim Director prior to Dr. Kraft. Dr. Reed works closely with hospital- and ambulatory care administration to ensure that HCC physicians and health professional teams are delivering excellent inpatient and outpatient care.

 Dr. Reed received her MD degree with Honor and Distinction in Research from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1977.  She did her general surgical residency at The New York Hospital.  She completed a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and then returned to The New York Hospital to complete a cardiothoracic surgical residency. She also is Chief, Section of General Thoracic Surgery and holds the Alice Ruth Reeves Folk Chair in Clinical Oncology.  Her research interests include lung cancer and esophageal cancer.

Dr. Reed has served nine years on the editorial board of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. She is Chairman of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Treasurer-Elect of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and President of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association.

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Steven A. Rosenzweig, Ph.D.  Assistant Director of Shared Resources

Dr. Rosenzweig is Professor and Director of Graduate Training in the Department Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Assistant Director of Shared Resources. Dr. Rosenzweig is responsible for developing and promoting HCC's basic science research efforts.

He received his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 1980.  He was then a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Cell Biology at Yale University School of Medicine where he joined the faculty until joining MUSC in 1991.  Dr. Rosenzweig’s research focuses on the role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in disease.  Increased activity of the IGF-1 receptor has been causally linked to breast, prostate, colon, lung and head and neck cancer.  His lab is working on the structure and function of the IGF binding proteins, a family of six proteins that act as natural inhibitors of the IGFs and IGF-1R. This work will lead to the development of new strategies and targets for treating IGF-sensitive cancers.

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