Shih-Han Lee, Ph.D.
Department of Genetics, Division of Discovery Science
About Dr. Shih-Han Lee
Dr. Lee received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from National Taiwan University in Taiwan, and then her doctoral degree from the University of Nottingham in the UK. She undertook her postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she pursued the role of alterations on the RNA level in cancer. Her work unraveled how cancer cells employ RNA processing to manipulate gene expression and alter protein functions to promote cell survival. Using multidisciplinary approaches including genetic, molecular biology, biochemistry and RNA cancer biology, her lab at MD Anderson Cancer Center focuses on understanding the principles of how transcriptomic drivers impact cancer pathogenesis and how the expression of transcript variants is regulated.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Genetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Genetics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2009 | University of Nottingham, Nottingham, GB, Stem Cell Biology and Genetics, Ph.D |
| 2002 | National Taiwan University, Taipei, TW, Plant Molecular Biology, M.Sc |
| 2000 | National Taiwan University, Taipei, TW, Horticulture, B.Sc |
Postgraduate Training
| 2012-2021 | Research Fellow, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York |
| 2010-2012 | Postdoctoral Research Associate, University College London (UCL), London |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
Research Assistant, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, 2004 - 2005
Head of Molecular Biology Division, Abnova Corporation, Taipei, 2002 - 2004
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, G&E Community Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2025 - Present
Member, UTHealth GSBS G&E Rotation Talk Host, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Sub-Committee, UTHealth GSBS G&E Admissions, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Co-Chair, Department Research Exchange Seminars, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2019 | The Ophelia Branca Snyder Society Scholar Prize, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
| 2018 | Postdoctoral Research Symposium, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
| 1999 - 2000 | National Taiwan University Presidential Award |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. At the cutting edge, alternative RNA cleavage and polyadenylation. Conference. At the cutting edge, alternative RNA cleavage and polyadenylation. Houston, TX, US.
- 2024. At the cutting edge, alternative RNA cleavage and polyadenylation. Joint Departmental Retreat. Galveston, Texas, US.
- 2024. At the cutting edge, alternative RNA cleavage and polyadenylation. Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. At the cutting edge: Alternative RNA cleavage and polyadenylation in cancer. Conference. The Center for Cancer Epigenetics Annual Retreat. Round Top, TX, US.
- 2023. Beyond DNA mutations: Alternative RNA 3’ end processing in cancer. Conference. Beyond DNA mutations: Alternative RNA 3’ end processing in cancer. Houston, TX, US.
- 2023. At the cutting edge: RNA Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation in cancer. Conference. Departmental Seminar Series. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Beyond DNA Mutations: The Roles of mRNA Alternative Cleavage and Polyadenylation in Cancer. Invited. Beyond DNA Mutations: The Roles of mRNA Alternative Cleavage and Polyadenylation in Cancer. Houston, TX, US.
- 2022. Beyond DNA Mutations: The Roles of mRNA Alternative Cleavage and Polyadenylation in Cancer. Invited. Beyond DNA Mutations: The Roles of mRNA Alternative Cleavage and Polyadenylation in Cancer. Houston, US.
- 2022. At the cutting edge: Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation in cancer. Conference. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2022. At the cutting edge: Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation in cancer. Invited. Arlington, TX, US.
- 2013. Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center. Conference. Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Intronically polyadenylated putative non-coding RNAs generate functional peptides. Poster. RNA Processing in Cancer: From Bench to Bedside. Sacramento, California, US.
- 2025. Intronically polyadenylated non-coding RNAs generate functional peptides. Poster. Eukaryotic mRNA Processing. Cold Spring Harbor, New York, US.
- 2019. Gain of additional BIRC3 protein functions through 3'-UTR-mediated protein complex formation. Conference. RNA Regulation and Control Meeting, Poster Presentation. New York, US.
- 2018. Widespread intronic polyadenylation inactivates tumor suppressor genes in leukemia. Conference. Widespread intronic polyadenylation inactivates tumor suppressor genes in leukemia. New York, US.
- 2016. A new oncogenic function of BIRC3 mediated by its 3'UTR. Conference. A new oncogenic function of BIRC3 mediated by its 3'UTR. New York, US.
- 2016. Truncated proteins generated from intronic polyA site usage functionally mimic frame-shift mutations in leukemia. Conference. Truncated proteins generated from intronic polyA site usage functionally mimic frame-shift mutations in leukemia. New York, US.
- 2011. HOTAIR expression and associated DNA methylation influences ovarian cancer biology. Conference. FASEB Summer Conference, Epigenetics, Chromatin & Transcription, CO, US.
- 2007. Gordon Research Conference - Stem Cells and Cancer. Conference. Gordon Research Conference - Stem Cells and Cancer, MT, US.
International Presentations
- 2022. At the cutting edge: Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation in cancer, RNA 3' end formation and the regulation of eukaryotic genomes. Conference. At the cutting edge: Alternative cleavage and polyadenylation in cancer, RNA 3' end formation and the regulation of eukaryotic genomes. Oxford, GB.
- 2009. 20th Mammalian Genetics and Development Workshop. Conference. 20th Mammalian Genetics and Development Workshop, GB.
- 2008. UKNSCN Inaugural Scientific Conference. Conference. UKNSCN Inaugural Scientific Conference, GB.
- 2008. EMBO Workshop - Can Epigenetics influence reprogramming and metastatic progression?. Conference. EMBO Workshop - Can Epigenetics influence reprogramming and metastatic progression?, DE.
- 2008. Children Brain Tumour Centre. Conference. Children Brain Tumour Centre, GB.
- 2007. BSCB/BSDB/Genetics Society Joint Spring Meeting. Conference. BSCB/BSDB/Genetics Society Joint Spring Meeting, GB.
- 2006. Children Brain Tumour Centre. Conference. Children Brain Tumour Centre, GB.
- 2006. BSCB/BSDB/Genetics Society Joint Spring Meeting. Conference. BSCB/BSDB/Genetics Society Joint Spring Meeting, GB.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2027 - 2032 |
| Title: | Transcriptome Diversification: Molecular Regulation of Intronic Polyadenylation |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R35GM169648 |
| Date: | 2026 - 2028 |
| Title: | How mutations in SF3B1 impact leukemia development through regulating RNA alternative cleavage and polyadenylation A new mechanism for p53 inactivation in leukemia |
| Funding Source: | Leukemia Research Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | N/A |
| Date: | 2026 - 2031 |
| Title: | The mechanisms and consequences of RNA Intronic Polyadenylation in cells |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | FP00026058 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2026 |
| Title: | A new mechanism for p53 inactivation in leukemia |
| Funding Source: | Leukemia Research Foundation |
| Role: | Principal Investigator-MDACC |
| ID: | N/A |
| Date: | 2023 - 2026 |
| Title: | How intronic polyadenylation inactivates tumor suppressors in leukemia |
| Funding Source: | American Society of Hematology (ASH) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | N/A |
| Date: | 2022 - 2025 |
| Title: | UT System Rising STARs |
| Funding Source: | UT System Rising STARs |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | N/A |
| Date: | 2021 - 2026 |
| Title: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Funding Source: | Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | RP210070 |
| Title: | The role of RNA cleavage and polyadenylation in cancer |
| Funding Source: | Andrew Sabin Family Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | N/A |
| Title: | The role of RNA cleavage and polyadenylation in cancer |
| Funding Source: | Rita Allen Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | N/A |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Le NB, Sona S, Santo B, Zhang Y, Ou R, Schweickart RA, Kochat V, Padron WI, Rai K, Lee SH, Yi JM, Wessely O, Lee BH, Ting AH. Differentiation in the human urothelia is defined by distinct alternative polyadenylation. Cell Rep 45(1), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41533515.
- Cadena LA, Lee Luo Kevin, Otero-Perez CA, Fernandez SM, Huang Y, Zhao R, Lee D, H Ting, Ye F, You MJ, Lee S. A TP53 Intron-Derived Peptide Promotes Tumor Survival. BioRxiv, 2025. e-Pub 2025.
- Lee SH, Mayr C. Gain of Additional BIRC3 Protein Functions through 3'-UTR-Mediated Protein Complex Formation. Mol Cell 74(4):701-712.e9, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30948266.
- Lee SH, Singh I, Tisdale S, Abdel-Wahab O, Leslie CS, Mayr C. Widespread intronic polyadenylation inactivates tumour suppressor genes in leukaemia. Nature 561(7721):127-131, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 30150773.
- Singh I, Lee SH, Sperling AS, Samur MK, Tai YT, Fulciniti M, Munshi NC, Mayr C, Leslie CS. Widespread intronic polyadenylation diversifies immune cell transcriptomes. Nat Commun 9(1):1716, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29712909.
- Kalwa M, Hänzelmann S, Otto S, Kuo CC, Franzen J, Joussen S, Fernandez-Rebollo E, Rath B, Koch C, Hofmann A, Lee SH, Teschendorff AE, Denecke B, Lin Q, Widschwendter M, Weinhold E, Costa IG, Wagner W. The lncRNA HOTAIR impacts on mesenchymal stem cells via triple helix formation. Nucleic Acids Res 44(22):10631-10643, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27634931.
- Teschendorff AE, Lee SH, Jones A, Fiegl H, Kalwa M, Wagner W, Chindera K, Evans I, Dubeau L, Orjalo A, Horlings HM, Niederreiter L, Kaser A, Yang W, Goode EL, Fridley BL, Jenner RG, Berns EM, Wik E, Salvesen HB, Wisman GB, van der Zee AG, Davidson B, Trope CG, Lambrechts S, Vergote I, Calvert H, Jacobs IJ, Widschwendter M. HOTAIR and its surrogate DNA methylation signature indicate carboplatin resistance in ovarian cancer. Genome Med 7:108, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26497652.
- Jones A, Teschendorff AE, Li Q, Hayward JD, Kannan A, Mould T, West J, Zikan M, Cibula D, Fiegl H, Lee SH, Wik E, Hadwin R, Arora R, Lemech C, Turunen H, Pakarinen P, Jacobs IJ, Salvesen HB, Bagchi MK, Bagchi IC, Widschwendter M. Role of DNA methylation and epigenetic silencing of HAND2 in endometrial cancer development. PLoS Med 10(11):e1001551, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 24265601.
- Zhuang J, Jones A, Lee SH, Ng E, Fiegl H, Zikan M, Cibula D, Sargent A, Salvesen HB, Jacobs IJ, Kitchener HC, Teschendorff AE, Widschwendter M. The dynamics and prognostic potential of DNA methylation changes at stem cell gene loci in women's cancer. PLoS Genet 8(2):e1002517, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22346766.
- Lee SH, Appleby V, Jeyapalan JN, Palmer RD, Nicholson JC, Sottile V, Gao E, Coleman N, Scotting PJ. Variable methylation of the imprinted gene, SNRPN, supports a relationship between intracranial germ cell tumours and neural stem cells. J Neurooncol 101(3):419-28, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 20582452.
- Lee SH, Jeyapalan JN, Appleby V, Mohamed Noor DA, Sottile V, Scotting PJ. Dynamic methylation and expression of Oct4 in early neural stem cells. J Anat 217(3):203-13, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20646110.
Abstracts
- Kwon, B, Fansler, M M, Patel, N, Lee, S-H, Lee, J, Ma, W, Mayr, C. Enhancers regulate 3′ end processing activity to control expression of alternative 3′UTR isoforms. BioRxiv, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 10, 2026