Shawn B. Bratton, Ph.D.
Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Division of Discovery Science
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Member, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Research Interests
In the Bratton laboratory, we are primarily interested in two basic areas of research: programmed cell death (e.g., apoptosis) and autophagy (self-cannibalism). Apoptosis is critical for normal development in multicellular organisms from flies to humans, and it works in concert with cell division to maintain the normal size and function of adult tissues. Diseases associated with increased rates of apoptosis include neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease, AIDS, ischemic injury, etc.), whereas those associated with inhibition of apoptosis include autoimmune diseases and cancer. In fact, defective apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer and a major cause of resistance during cancer therapy. Autophagy, on the other hand, is primarily a cell survival process. In cells deprived of growth factors or nutrients, intracellular proteins and even entire organelles are broken down and proteolytically digested within lysosomes in order to provide energy and macromolecules for essential biosynthetic pathways. Autophagy therefore plays an important role during tumorigenesis, as it allows early solid tumors to survive prior to vascularization (angiogenesis), and it promotes chemoresistance by allowing tumor cells to remove damaged proteins and organelles. Thus, we focus on the fundamental cell death and autophagy mechanisms that exist in cancer cells with an eye toward identifying druggable targets to promote cell death and suppress innate/acquired resistance in cancer.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1999 | The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, US, Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology |
| 1992 | The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, US, BS in Medical Technology |
| 1991 | The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, US, BS in Molecular Biology |
Postgraduate Training
| 1999-2001 | Research Fellowship, Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, Leicester |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2002 | Medical Technology (MT), American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Associate Professor (joint appointment), College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 2012 - 2020
Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 2008 - 2011
Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 2002 - 2008
Band 3 Scientist, Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, Leicester, 2001 - 2002
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Reviewer, GSBS John J. Kopchick Research Award Fellowships, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Regular Member, UTMDACC, Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis, Academic Standards Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - Present
Director, UTMDACC, Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis Graduate Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015 - 2017
Member, UTMDACC, GSBS Executive Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2017
Chair, UTMDACC, GSBS Admissions Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2016
Co-Director, UTMDACC, Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis Graduate Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014 - 2015
Member, UTMDACC, IRG Basic Study Section Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - Present
Member, UTMDACC, Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis Admissions Subcommittee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2017
Member, UTMDACC, Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis Program Steering Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2017
Member, UTMDACC, GSBS Admissions Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2016
Member, UTMDACC, Faculty Workshop to Improve Scientific Lecture Communications, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2015
Member, UTMDACC, Epigenetics & Molecular Carcinogenesis Faculty Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2013 - 2014
Member, UTMDACC, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2012 - Present
Member, UT-Austin, Faculty Development Committee, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2010 - 2012
Mentor to Dr. Casey Wright, UT-Austin, Faculty Mentor Program, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2009 - 2012
Member, UT-Austin, Public Affairs Committee, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008 - 2010
Chair, UT-Austin, College of Pharmacy Faculty Retreat, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2008
Chair, UT-Austin, Faculty Search Committee, Pharmacology & Toxicology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2007 - 2011
Chair, UT-Austin, Financial Aid Committee, Professional Students, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2006 - 2012
Member, UT-Austin, NSF-IGERT Program in Indoor Environmental Science & Engineering, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2006 - 2011
Member, UT-Austin, Admissions Committee, Cell & Molecular Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2005 - 2010
Member, UT-Austin, Graduate Studies Administrative Subcommittee, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004 - 2008
Member, UT-Austin, TA Committee, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004 - 2008
Member, UT-Austin, Chemical, Radiological & Biohazard Safety Committee, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004 - 2008
Member, UT-Austin, Equipment Committee, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004 - 2008
Member, UT-Austin, Financial Aid Committee, Professional Students, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2004 - 2005
Member, UT-Austin, Center for Molecular & Cellular Toxicology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002 - Present
Member, UT-Austin, Graduate Studies Committee, Graduate Program in Molecular Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002 - 2017
Member, UT-Austin, CRED, jointly funded NIEHS Center between UTMDACC & UT-Austin, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2002 - 2012
Editorial Activities
Review Editor, Frontiers in Cell Death and Survival, 2014 - Present
Editorial Board/Academic Editor, PLoS One, 2010 - 2024
Associate Editor, Molecular Carcinogenesis, 2010 - 2020
Editorial Advisory Board, Biochemical Journal, 2003 - 2017
Honors & Awards
| 2010 | Nominated - UT Co-operative Best Research Paper, The University of Texas |
| 2006 | Nominated - Texas Excellence in Teaching Award, The University of Texas College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Council |
| 2005 - 2008 | Research Scholar, American Cancer Society |
| 2005 - 2006 | Research Scholar, PhRMA Foundation |
| 1999 | Carl C. Smith Graduate Student (1st place) Award for Meritorious Research in Mechanisms of Toxicology, Society of Toxicology |
| 1998 | Reynolds Award (1st place) for oral platform presentation, Society of Toxicology |
| 1996 | Reynolds Award (1st place) for oral platform presentation, Society of Toxicology |
| 1994 - 1999 | Predoctoral Fellow - Toxicology Training Grant, National Institutes of Health |
Professional Memberships
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2028 |
| Title: | Noncanonical roles of Bim in heat shock-induced cell death |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01GM155335 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2026 |
| Title: | Noncanonical roles of Bim in heat shock-induced cell death |
| Funding Source: | Internal / Bridge Funding – Restoration of Cut Funds |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | 2025-00064321-Y1 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Duque, TL, Paddar, M, Trosdal, E, Javed, R, Allers, L, Mudd, MH, Akepati, P, Mishra, SR, Salemi, MR, Phinney, B, Bratton, SB, Wileman, T, Deretic, V. ATG16L1 controls mammalian vacuolar proton ATPase. Journal of Cell Biology 224(10), 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40923996.
- Wible DJ, Li WJ, Liu X, Sebastian MM, Tang DG, Bratton SB. Loss of ATG5 expression in a subset of human prostate cancers promotes tumor growth through accumulation of p62. bioRxiv, 2025. PMID: 40625641.
- Wible, D, Parikh, Z, Cho, EJ, Chen, M, Jeter, CR, Mukhopadhyay, S, Dalby, KN, Varadarajan, S, Bratton, SB. Unexpected inhibition of the lipid kinase PIKfyve reveals an epistatic role for p38 MAPKs in endolysosomal fission and volume control. Cell Death and Disease 15(1), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38253602.
- Wible DJ, Parikh Z, Cho EJ, Chen MD, Mukhopadhyay S, Dalby KN, Varadarajan S, Bratton SB. Unexpected inhibition of the lipid kinase PIKfyve reveals an epistatic role for p38 MAPKs in endolysosomal fission and volume control. bioRxiv, 2023. PMID: 36993747.
- Wible DJ, Chao HP, Tang DG, Bratton SB. ATG5 cancer mutations and alternative mRNA splicing reveal a conjugation switch that regulates ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 complex assembly and autophagy. Cell Discov 5(1):42, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31636955.
- Wu CC, Lee S, Malladi S, Chen MD, Mastrandrea NJ, Zhang Z, Bratton SB. The Apaf-1 apoptosome induces formation of caspase-9 homo- and heterodimers with distinct activities. Nat Commun 7:13565, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27882936.
Invited Articles
- Wible DJ, Bratton SB. Reciprocity in ROS and autophagic signaling. Curr Opin Toxicol 7:28-36, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29457143.
- Wu CC, Bratton SB. Caspase-9 swings both ways in the apoptosome. Mol Cell Oncol 4(2):e1281865, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28401186.
Book Chapters
- Wible DJ and Bratton SB. Apoptosis. In: Comprehensive Toxicology 3rd Edition. Elsevier, 2018.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026