Mourad Haley L. Majidi Peters
Houston, Lung,TX, on
Summary
QUALIFICATION OVERVIEW
With over 20 years of experience in cancer research, program management, and research administration, I have a proven track record of delivering high-impact results, particularly at MD Anderson Cancer Center. My expertise encompasses large-scale, cross-disciplinary projects and programs in tumor biology, immunotherapy, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and mechanisms of drug actions and resistance, with a steadfast commitment to research integrity, regulatory compliance, and highest ethical standards . I have successfully led several teams secure multimillion-dollar grants, mentored emerging researchers, and driven innovative programs through collaboration. Additionally, I have overseen phase I and II clinical trials, supported faculty in securing major NIH/NCI funding, and streamlined operations to enhance transparency and align funding strategies with institutional goals, ultimately boosting research productivity and
institutional visibility. I also excel in biomedical writing significantly, contributing to high-profile manuscripts and large-scale complex program grants with complex administration and budgeting.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director of Research Planning, Administrative Director of Research
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
09.2014 - 09.2024
Associate Director of Research Planning & Development
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
09.2014 - 09.2024
- Overall Impact
- Throughout my tenure at MD Anderson Cancer Center, I made significant contributions to advancing lung cancer research, particularly in the areas of innovative therapies, preclinical models, and research methodologies
- By providing strategic leadership, fostering a culture of collaboration and scientific rigor, I helped drive impactful research, secured major funding, and mentored the next generation of researchers
- Below are some key accomplishments and responsibilities that highlight my leadership and contributions to the field
- Strategic Leadership & Program Management
- Optimizing Program Effectiveness:
- Proactively identified and addressed program management challenges and limitations, refining research operations to enhance scientific quality, foster innovation, and boost productivity across critical research areas
- Led comprehensive assessments of complex, high-impact research programs, focusing on innovation and alignment with strategic scientific goals, delivering actionable insights and recommendations to enhance program performance
- Research Integrity & Compliance:
- Led the development and implementation of policies ensuring strict adherence to ethical and regulatory standards in research
- Oversaw GMP stability and efficacy programs for TUSC2 nanoparticles, enforcing quality control protocols for regulatory compliance
- Instituted ethical research practices and designed training programs on transparency, accountability, and proactive misconduct prevention
- Notable example: Implemented an ELISA-based testing protocol to combat mycoplasma contamination in tissue culture cell lines and resolved c
- Bovis contamination in mouse models, preserving vital NIH/NCI grant funding
- Scientific Integrity & Risk Management:
- Led efforts to safeguard research integrity
- Ensure operational compliance across all research programs, proactively managing risks related to regulatory adherence and scientific accountability
- Strategic Planning & Data-Driven Decision-Making:
- Utilized data-driven insights to inform institutional strategic planning, aligning research initiatives with the long-term goals of the organization and maximizing impact
- Methodological Excellence:
- Refined research methodologies to ensure data integrity and reproducibility
- Led the introduction of CRISPR gene-editing technology, enhancing precision in genetic modification
- Collaborated with Dr
- Trevor Hart to optimize gene editing using next-generation CRISPR-Cas systems, improving efficiency and precision
- Trained research teams in advanced technologies, ensuring effective integration
- Key Achievements
- Strategic Leadership in Cancer Research:
- Led groundbreaking cancer research focused on the TUSC2/FUS1 tumor suppressor gene for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapies
- Directed a multidisciplinary team to discover and validate TUSC2’s anti-tumor activity, including its multi-kinase inhibitory effects, both in vitro and in vivo
- Published high-impact findings, establishing TUSC2 as a key target in cancer therapy
- Innovative Gene Therapy Development:
- Spearheaded the development of a nanoparticle-based delivery system for TUSC2, enabling selective overexpression in NSCLC cells while preserving immune cell function
- Demonstrated the therapeutic potential of combining TUSC2 with T cell-based immunotherapies in clinical trials, leading to measurable clinical responses and enhanced understanding of tumor-immune interactions
- Preclinical Model Optimization & Translational Research:
- Led the development of humanized mouse models using fresh human CD34+ stem cells, cutting development time by 50% and improving success rates
- Pioneered the creation of patient-derived xenografts (HU-PDX), setting a new standard for immunotherapy testing and clinical response modeling
- Developed innovative 3D hydrogel organoid systems, addressing limitations of traditional Matrigel and advancing drug discovery
- Introduced bioprinting technology, enabling precise tissue and organ structure creation for improved drug testing and tissue engineering
- Grant Management & Funding:
- Orchestrated collaborations with top cancer research institutions, such as UTSW, Moffitt Cancer Center, UCSF, Stanford, and Baylor College of Medicine, securing multi-million-dollar funding
- Crafted and reviewed large-scale grant proposals, projects and cores, coordinated grant meetings with stakeholders, and led successful grant submissions after OSP validation, including NCI SPORE and renewals, CCSG renewals, U54 ART Net
- U54 PDX Net, RO1 and RO1 MPIs, CPRIT and private industry partnerships with Genprex, driving progress in cancer research
- Financial Management & Resource Optimization:
- Managed large-scale research budgets, ensuring efficient resource allocation and compliance with funding requirements
- Optimized research expenditures, reducing costs by 18% while increasing productivity by 25%
- Provided oversight for grant writing, submission, and financial reporting, ensuring accountability and successful project outcomes
- Regulatory & Clinical Trial Oversight:
- Led the revision and management of IRB protocols for clinical trials, ensuring regulatory compliance with FDA regulations and ethical standards
- Directed Phase I/II clinical trials of TUSC2 gene therapy in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, ensuring operational efficiency and patient safety
- Publications, Mentorship & Thought Leadership:
- Authored 15+ peer-reviewed papers, contributing to key advancements in gene therapy, immunotherapy, and tumor-immune interactions
- Mentored over 100 junior faculty, fellows, and students in grantsmanship, data analysis, and career development, fostering the next generation of cancer researchers
- Team Development & Strategic Planning:
- Recruited and led high-performing research teams, driving collaboration and success
- Utilized data-driven insights to guide strategic planning, aligning research with organizational goals for maximum impact.
Administrative Director of Research Programs
Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
06.2012 - 11.2014
- Program Management:
- Directed the research operations of a multidisciplinary team focused on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), overseeing large-scale projects, ensuring data integrity
- And sustaining long-term funding
- Identified, supported, implemented strategic planning aligning with department needs and initiatives
- Drove governance best practices, processes, methodologies and protocols
- Effectively managed resources required to provide expertise to support project
- Governance, quality and best practices, including capacity planning, demand management, resource utilization
- Grant Writing & Compliance:
- Led successful submissions of high-impact grants, including NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), and Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE)
- Managed regulatory compliance and provided CCSG and SPORE progress reports
- Scientific Leadership:
- Co-developed innovative preclinical models, including 3Dpatient-derived xenografts (PDXs) started the humanized mouse program aimed at advancing translational research
- Managed GMP TUSC2 nanoparticle stability and efficacy program
- Amended IACUC and IRB protocols aligning with grant proposals
- Strategic Partnerships:
- Cultivated internal and external collaborations with institutions such as Baylor College of Medicine and UTSW Hamon Center for oncology therapeutic Research., driving joint publications and funded initiatives
- Compliance awareness Programs:
- Assisted with managing compliance awareness programs, training, and resources to maintain high standards of research integrity across the institution.
Scientific and Administrative Grant Program Manager
Jack A, The University of Texas
Houston, TX
12.2012 - 09.2014
- Roth, M.D, F.A.C.S
- MD Anderson Cancer Center Professor and Bud Johnson Clinical Distinguished Chair Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery Professor of Molecular & Cellular Oncology
- Director, W.M
- Keck Center for Innovative Cancer Therapies Chief, Section of Thoracic Molecular Oncology, Office (713)792-7664 email jroth@mdanderson.org
Research Assistant/Associate Professor
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
12.2011 - 12.2012
Scientific and Administrative Grant Program Manager
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston
12.2011 - 05.2012
- Program Management Excellence:
- Led the preparation and successful submission of the NCI Special Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant progress report, ensuring the alignment of strategic goals with the institution’s research priorities
- Conducted a comprehensive review of ongoing projects, presenting the director and chair with a more streamlined and effective strategic plan that enhanced research focus and impact
- Successfully reduced research staff by 30% while maintaining productivity and operational effectiveness, optimizing resource allocation to drive continued research success
- Financial Efficiency and Cost Reduction:
- Played a pivotal role in reducing supply expenditures by 15%, implementing cost-saving measures without compromising research quality or output
- Led the restructuring of personnel allocation, resulting in improved financial efficiency and enhanced operational performance
- Clinical Trial Leadership:
- Contributed significantly to the coordination of Phase I/II clinical trials for TUSC2 gene therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Ensured strict adherence to protocols, optimized trial operations, and managed trial budgets to enhance both efficacy and cost-effectiveness
- Directed cross-institutional research collaborations, including the Lung Cancer Moonshot initiative, and supported grant writing and administration for SPORE projects to advance cutting-edge cancer research
- Reporting and Compliance:
- Delivered comprehensive progress reports for the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), effectively communicating the center’s achievements and future directions
- Maintained a rigorous focus on compliance with complex regulatory requirements, fostering a culture of best practices in research and ensuring adherence to institutional and governmental research standards.
Senior Research Scientist
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
01.2004 - 01.2008
Department Chair
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Washington
02.1999 - 12.2003
Director, Division of Surgery Professor and Chairman
Stephen, Surgery Robert
- G
- Swisher, M.D., F.A.C.S
- F
- Fly Professorship of Surgical Oncology
- Office (713)792-8659 sswisher@mdanderson.org
Professor and Chairman
Vaporciyan Ara A. M.D, A.C
Professor and Chairman
S
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Office: (713)745-4533 avaporci@mdanderson.org
- Jefferey N
- Myers, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.
Head, division administrator
Department of
- Office: 713-745-2667
- Jmyers@mdanderson.org
- Obasi Emanuel, MBA
- Department and Surgery, Office: (713)563-1982 emobasi@mdanderson.org
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D - Molecular Genetics
Howard University, College of Medicine
01.1998
Master of Science (M.S - Molecular Genetics
Howard University, College of Medicine
01.1993
Bachelor of Science (B.S - Biology
George Mason University
01.1989
Skills
- CORE COMPETENCIES & EXPERTISE
- Scientific Leadership & Expertise: A seasoned leader in tumor biology, molecular genetics, immunology, and cancer therapeutics, including targeted and immunotherapy with a focus on precision medicine I specialize in the molecular mechanisms of drug action and resistance, utilizing highly relevant preclinical mouse models, advanced genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics technologies to drive basic, translational, and clinical cancer research My work bridges multidisciplinary approaches to translate scientific discoveries into novel, effective treatments and advance therapeutic innovation Moving basic research to clinical applications involved:
- Identifying potential targets for intervention
- Developing and validating biomarkers
- Screening and testing candidate drugs or devices
- Conducting preclinical studies in animal models including syngeneic mice, genetically modified mice, and humanized mice
- Research Program Leadership: Proven success in managing large, complex research programs, securing multimillion-dollar funding, and driving high-impact initiatives I integrate cutting-edge scientific techniques, including gen expression high throughput technologies to lead programs in lung cancer research, with a focus on fostering innovation and advancing precision medicine to improve patient outcomes
- Governance & Compliance Expertise: Extensive experience navigating regulatory frameworks including IRB, HRP, IBC, GLP, and GMP I provide expert guidance on regulatory compliance with policies such as Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and OMB Circulars, ensuring research initiatives meet regulatory requirements and uphold research integrity
- Outstanding Written skills: Expertise in crafting large-scale, high-quality grant proposals and managing complex budgets I collaborate closely with research teams and funding agencies to submit compelling, compliant proposals that align with institutional goals I also write high-impact research manuscripts, reports, and agreements, contributing to the success of funded projects
- Budget Development & Financial Oversight: Skilled in designing and managing large research budgets, ensuring optimal resource allocation and fiscal responsibility I track expenditures, maintain sponsor-compliant budgets, and oversee post-award financial management to ensure the success and sustainability of research programs
- Clinical Trial Coordination: Experienced in coordinating and leading Phase I & II clinical trials, ensuring regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and successful trial outcomes My role also involves optimizing patient care and clinical processes to support the effective execution of research studies
- Training & Staff Development: Passionate about fostering professional growth among
- Research staff, I create a culture of continuous learning to enhance technical expertise and ensure success in navigating complex research challenges and grant administration
- Process Improvement & Efficiency Enhancements: Skilled at identifying process bottlenecks and implementing strategic improvements to enhance operational efficiency, reduce delays, and better align research efforts with institutional objectives
- Strategic Reporting & Forecasting: Experienced in delivering actionable, data-driven
- Reports to senior leadership and stakeholders, using forecasting models to inform decision- making and ensure the continued success of research programs
- Problem-Solving & Adaptability: A strong problem solver with a track record of adapting to shifting priorities, implementing effective solutions, and maintaining team resilience and progress in dynamic research environments
- Meraz I, Majidi M, Cao X, Heather L, Li L, Wang J, Baladandayuthapani V, Rice, Sepesi B, Ji L, and Roth JA TUSC2 immunogene synergizes with anti-PD1 through enhanced
- Proliferation and infiltration of natural killer cells in syngeneic Kras-mutant mouse lung cancer models, Cancer Immunol Res January 31 2018 6 (2) 163-177; DOI:101158/2326-6066CIR-17-0273
- Cao X, Zhao Y, Wang J, Dai B, Gentile E, Lin J, Pu X, Ji L, Wu S, Meraz I, Majidi M, Roth JA TUSC2 downregulates PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) Oncotarget 2017 Nov21;8(64):107621-107629 doi: 1018632/oncotarget22581 eCollection 2017 Dec 8 PMID: 29296193
- Gentile E, Taro O, Lin J, Shao R, M, Cao X, Lin H, Majidi M, Pataer A, Baladadayuthapani V, Roth JA, Ji L, Cationic liquid crystalline nanoparticles for the delivery of synthetic RNAi-based therapeutics, Oncotarget, Advance Publications 2017 Received: December 28, 2016 Accepted: May 05, 2017 Published: June 09, 2017
Accomplishments
- 7 (8) 1267-1279.
Timeline
Associate Director of Research Planning, Administrative Director of Research
MD Anderson Cancer Center
09.2014 - 09.2024
Associate Director of Research Planning & Development
MD Anderson Cancer Center
09.2014 - 09.2024
Scientific and Administrative Grant Program Manager
Jack A, The University of Texas
12.2012 - 09.2014
Administrative Director of Research Programs
Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center
06.2012 - 11.2014
Research Assistant/Associate Professor
MD Anderson Cancer Center
12.2011 - 12.2012
Scientific and Administrative Grant Program Manager
MD Anderson Cancer Center
12.2011 - 05.2012
Senior Research Scientist
University of Tennessee
01.2004 - 01.2008
Department Chair
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
02.1999 - 12.2003
Director, Division of Surgery Professor and Chairman
Stephen, Surgery Robert
Professor and Chairman
Vaporciyan Ara A. M.D, A.C
Professor and Chairman
S
Head, division administrator
Department of
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D - Molecular Genetics
Howard University, College of Medicine
Master of Science (M.S - Molecular Genetics
Howard University, College of Medicine
Bachelor of Science (B.S - Biology
George Mason University
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