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Molecular Oncology

Program Information

Molecular Oncology is an integrated basic science program composed of a diverse group of investigators with strengths in cancer stem cells, DNA damage repair and genomic instability, tumor-host interactions, and other fundamental areas of cancer biology.

Program Aims

  • Discover mechanisms of cancer stem cell (CSC) regulation that drive cellular heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance
  • Elucidate the impact of genomic instability on tumor heterogeneity, progression, and therapeutic resistance
  • Interrogate cell to cell interactions in tumor development, dormancy, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance with emphasis on immune and microbiome alterations

Program Members

  • Suneel Apte, MBBS, DPhil

    Suneel S. Apte, MBBS, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: aptes@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.445.3278

  • Portrait of Shideng Bao, PhD

    Shideng Bao, PhD

    Adjunct Assistant Professor
    Department of Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: baos@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.636.1009

  • Mark Brown

    Jonathan Mark Brown, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Nutrition
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: brownm5@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.8340

  • Image of Matthias Buck

    Matthias Buck, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Physiology and Biophysics
    School of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Neurosciences
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: mxb150@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.8651

  • Cathleen Carlin headshot

    Cathleen R. Carlin, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Physiology and Biophysics
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: cxc39@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.8939

  • headshot of Shuyang Chen

    Shuyang Chen, PhD

    Assistant Staff
    Cancer Biology
    Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: chens8@ccf.org

  • Portrait of Jan Claesen

    Jan Claesen, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: claesej@ccf.org

  • Portrait of Fabio Cominelli

    Fabio Cominelli, MD, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pathology
    School of Medicine
    Chief
    Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: Fabio.Cominelli@uhhospitals.org

    Phone: 216.844.7344

  • Portrait of Carlos Crespo

    Carlos Crespo, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Chemistry
    College of Arts and Sciences
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: cxc302@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.1911

  • David Danielpour
    David Schwartz Photography

    David Danielpour, PhD

    Professor
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Associate Professor
    Department of Urology
    School of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: dxd49@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.5670

  • Portrait of Srinivasan Dasarathy

    Srinivasan Dasarathy, MD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: dasaras@ccf.org

  • Joseph DiDonato headshot

    Joseph A. DiDonato, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: didonaj@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.8178

  • Dr. J. Alan Diehl

    J. Alan Diehl, PhD

    Chair
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: jad283@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.0268

  • Clark Distelhorst, MD

    Clark W. Distelhorst, MD

    Charles S. Britton II Professor of Hematology/Oncology
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Medicine
    Division of Hematology and Oncology
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: cwd@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.4546

  • James H. Finke

    James H. Finke, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pathology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: finkej@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.5186

  • Paul Fox

    Paul L. Fox, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: foxp@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.8053

  • Portrait of Thomas Gerken

    Thomas A. Gerken , PhD

    Professor
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pediatrics
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Population and Cancer Prevention Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: thomas.gerken@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.4556

  • UH Portrait of Hannah Gilmore

    Hannah L. Gilmore , MD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Pathology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: hannah.gilmore@UHhospitals.org

    Phone: 216.286.6587

  • Portrait of Candece Gladson

    Candece L. Gladson, MD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: gladsoc@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.636.9493

  • Zihua Gong

    Zihua Gong, MD, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: gongz@ccf.org

  • Portrait of Kailash Gulshan, man with dark hair looking at camera wearing a dark suit coat, blue dress shirt and a tie.

    Kailash Gulshan, PhD

    Adjunct Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: gulshak@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.445.3699

  • Thomas A. Hamilton

    Thomas A. Hamilton, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pathology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: hamiltt@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.6246

  • Portrait of Warren DW Heston

    Warren D.W. Heston, PhD

    Adjunct Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: hestonw@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.8181

  • Christopher Hine

    Christopher Hine, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: hinec@ccf.org

  • Christopher Hubert, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Biomedical Engineering
    Case School of Engineering
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: hubertc@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.445.6471

  • Dr. Mark Jackson

    Mark Jackson, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Pathology
    School of Medicine
    Associate Director for Training and Education
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Director, Cancer Biology Training Program
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: mark.w.jackson@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.1276

  • Ge Jin

    Ge Jin, PhD

    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program and Population & Cancer Prevention Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: ge.jin@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.3791

  • Portrait of Hung-Ying Kao

    Hung-Ying Kao, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: hung.kao@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.1150

  • Image of headshot of Ruth Keri

    Ruth Keri, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Associate Director for Basic Research
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: kerir@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.445.1323

  • headshot of Hyun Jung Kim

    Hyun Jung Kim, PhD

    Assistant Staff
    Department of Inflammation and Immunity
    Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: KIMH19@ccf.org

  • Portrait of Justin Lathia

    Justin D. Lathia, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Co-Leader
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: lathiaj@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.445.7475

  • Jeongwu Lee

    Jeongwu Lee, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: leej7@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.9834

  • Bibo Li

    Bibo Li , PhD

    Adjunct Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: b.li37@csuohio.edu

    Phone: 216.687.2444

  • Portrait of Feng Lin

    Feng Lin, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: linf2@ccf.org

  • Shujun Liu headshot

    Shujun Liu, PhD

    Professor
    MetroHealth Medical Center
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: shujun.liu2@case.edu

  • Portrait of Michelle Longworth

    Michelle S. Longworth, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences
    School of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Center for RNA Science and Therapeutics
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: longwom@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.8082

  • Roger Macklis

    Roger M. Macklis, MD

    Clinical Professor
    Department of Radiation Oncology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: Roger.Macklis@Uhhospitals.org

  • Portrait of Danny Manor

    Danny Manor, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Nutrition
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: dxm178@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.6230

  • Shigemi Matsuyama

    Shigemi Matsuyama, DVM, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
    School of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Department of Pathology
    School of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Hematology and Oncology
    Department of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Division of General Medical Sciences
    Associate Professor
    Case Western Reserve University
    Associate Professor
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: sxm193@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.5832

  • Portrait of Christine McDonald

    Christine L. McDonald, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: mcdonac2@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.445.7058

  • Thomas M. McIntyre

    Thomas M. McIntyre, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: mcintyt@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.1048

  • Jason A. Mears headshot

    Jason A. Mears, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: jam348@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.3348

  • Masaru Miyagi headshot

    Masaru Miyagi, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: mxm356@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.2641

  • Portrait of Carvell Nguyen

    Carvell T. Nguyen, MD, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Surgery
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: cnguyen4@metrohealth.org

    Phone: 216.778.7968

  • Marvin Nieman headshot

    Marvin T. Nieman, PhD

    Vice Dean for Graduate Education
    Graduate Education Office
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: nieman@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.0250

  • Portrait of Christine O'Connor

    Christine M. O'Connor, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: oconnoc6@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.0676

  • image of Nancy Oleinick

    Nancy Oleinick, PhD

    Professor Emerita
    Department of Radiation Oncology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: nlo@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.1117

  • Portrait of Quintin Pan

    Quintin Pan, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Otolaryngology
    School of Medicine
    Co-Leader
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: quintin.pan@UHhospitals.org

  • Monaliben Patel, MD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: Monaliben.patel@uhhospitals.org

  • Edward Plow

    Edward F. Plow, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: plowe@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.445.8200

  • Portrait of Shuo Qie

    Shuo Qie, MD, PhD

    Instructor
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: sxq96@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.1639

  • Jun Qin

    Jun Qin, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Adjunct Associate Professor
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: qinj@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.5392

  • Image of headshot of Diana Ramirez-Bergeron

    Diana Ramirez-Bergeron, PhD, MS

    Associate Professor
    Department of Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Cardiovascular Research Institute
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Pathology
    School of Medicine
    Co-Director, Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program
    Graduate Education Office
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: Diana.Ramirez@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.2036

  • Ofer Reizes

    Ofer Reizes, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: reizeso@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.445.0880

  • William Schiemann

    William P. Schiemann, PhD

    Vice Dean for Research
    School of Medicine
    Goodman-Blum Professor in Cancer Research
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Biochemistry
    Special Advisor to the Director
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Director
    Pilot Funding & Scientific Investments
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: William.Schiemann@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.5763

  • Alvin Schmaier

    Alvin H. Schmaier, MD

    Professor
    Department of Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pathology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: schmaier@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.1172

  • Chirag Shah, MD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: shahc4@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.445.1068

  • Portrait of Jonathan Smith

    Jonathan D. Smith , PhD

    Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: smithj4@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.2248

  • Portrait of Khalid Sossey-Alaoui

    Khalid Sossey-Alaoui, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: kxs586@case.edu

    Phone: 216.778.5275

  • Portrait of George Stark

    George R. Stark , PhD

    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: starkg@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.6062

  • Duncan Stearns

    Duncan Stearns, MD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Pediatrics
    Division of Hematology and Oncology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: duncan.stearns@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.0290

  • Bin Su, PhD

    Adjunct Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: b.su@csuohio.edu

    Phone: 216.687.9219

  • Portrait of Hoonkyo Suh

    Hoonkyo Suh, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: suhh2@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.5895

  • Portrait of Saba Valadkhan

    Saba Valadkhan, MD, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: saba.valadkhan@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.1068

  • Dr. Bing-Cheng Wang

    Bingcheng Wang, PhD

    John A. and Josephine B. Wootton Endowed Chair of Research and Professor
    Department of Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Professor
    Department of Physiology and Biophysics
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Cleveland Center for Membrane & Structural Biology
    School of Medicine

    Email: bingcheng.wang@case.edu

    Phone: 216.778.4356

  • Portrait of Oliver Wessely

    Oliver Wessely, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: wesselo@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.3050

  • Portrait of Chengfeng Yang in dark suit and tie

    Chengfeng Yang, PhD

    Professor
    Department of Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: cxy432@case.edu

    Phone: 216.778.8965

  • Image of headshot of Sichun Yang

    Sichun Yang, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Nutrition
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Physiology and Biophysics
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: sichun.yang@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.5793

  • Image of Vivien Yee

    Vivien C. Yee, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Associate Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: vivien.yee@cwru.edu

    Phone: 216.368.1184

  • Portrait of Akihiro Yoshida

    Akihiro Yoshida, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Dermatology
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: axy234@case.edu

  • Image of Yi Zhang

    Yi Zhang, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Biochemistry
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Cleveland Center for Membrane & Structural Biology
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: yi.zhang26@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.0424

  • Youwei Zhang Headshot

    Youwei Zhang, PhD

    Associate Professor
    Department of Pharmacology
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Chair
    Department of Pharmacology
    Graduate Qualification Committee

    Email: yxz169@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.7588

  • Portrait of Jianjun Zhao

    Jianjun Zhao, MD, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Molecular Medicine
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: zhaoj4@ccf.org

    Phone: 216.444.7511

  • Guang Zhou, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Department of Orthopaedics
    School of Medicine
    Assistant Professor
    Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences
    School of Medicine
    Member
    Molecular Oncology Program
    Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Email: guang.zhou@case.edu