Claudio J. Conti, DVM PhD.
Professor of Cancer Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr Conti was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he got a DVM and PhD degree from the University of Buenos Aires, After two years training in human and comparative pathology in the Department of Pathology of the University of Colorado, he moved permanently to the USA and become an US citizen.

He joined M.D.Anderson Cancer Center in 1983 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Carcinogenesis and was promoted to full Professor in 1993. In 1999 he was awarded the HEB Professorship in Cancer Research. Dr Conti has also held administrative positions as Associate Director of the Science-Park campus and deputy chairman of the department of Carcinogenesis (1991-1994) and Associate Director of Departmental Affairs (1999-2008). He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the M.D.Anderson Faculty Senate as well as a member or Chair of several Institutional and National Committees.

Dr Conti is presently a Professor in the Department of Carcinogenesis. He also holds an Adjunct appointment in the School of Pharmacy (UT Austin) and is a Senior Distinguished Lecturer in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (UT Houston). In regard to his present administrative commitments, he is an Associate Director of the Community Outreach and Education Program (COEP) and Scientific Director of the Center for Research on Minority Health Disparities (CRMHP).

Dr Conti’s research has been focused on the field of experimental pathology for more than 35 years and has worked for more than 27 years in animal models of carcinogenesis. In the last decade his efforts have been directed to genetically modified mice, particularly in models for skin, prostate and breast cancer. His major contributions have been in the fields of tumor promotion and progression, models for cancer prevention, cell cycle regulation and signal transduction as well as the roles of ras, myc and p53 mutations in carcinogenesis. More recently he has concentrated his research efforts in mammary cancer and in collaboration with Dr Fuchs-Young, he is studying the role of diet, IGF-1 and other risk factors in cancer susceptibility as well as the role of mitochondrial damage as a possible link between hyper caloric diets and cancer. In addition, in the last few years Dr Conti has been able to develop his interest in health disparities and in association with Dr Lovell Jones he has an active participation in studies carried out by the CRMHD. He has also collaborated with Dr Gimenez-Conti in the radio program "Hablando de Salud" (KOOP, Austn) dedicated to reach the latin community of Central Texas in subjects related to disease prevention.

Both formal teaching and training post-doctoral fellows and graduate student has also been a priority for Dr Conti. He has coordinated and taught courses for GSBS and UT Austin. He received commendation for his Excellence in Teaching in 1986, 1993,1996 and 1999. Trainees in Dr Conti laboratory have developed productive career in the academy, the government and the Industry, not only in the USA but also in four other conuntries.

Dr Conti is the author of more than 300 publications including books, book chapter, peer reviewed publications and invited review articles. He has also been the recipient of research grant from NIH, DOD and the American cancer Society.