2025 Houston Cholangiocarcinoma Symposium
The 2025 Houston Cholangiocarcinoma Symposium is set to convene in Houston, drawing together leading experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, and advocates.
This event promises to be a crucial platform for sharing the latest advancements and addressing the challenges in cholangiocarcinoma research and treatment.
More information to come soon!
When:
December 12, 2025
8:30am – 4:00pm
Hosts:
Dr. Sudha Kodali
Dr. Milind Javle
Dr. Mark Ghobrial
Where:
Houston Methodist Research Institute
6670 Bertner Ave.
John F. Bookout Auditorium, 2nd Floor
Houston, TX 77030
Registration & Breakfast from 8:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Presentations start at 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Beverages will be served
Please join us for a complimentary dinner at Terrace 54 from 5-8 p.m. (very short walk from symposium venue)
Speakers
Maen Abdelrahim
Maen Abdelrahim
Dr. Maen Abdelrahim is a distinguished gastrointestinal (GI) medical oncologist and transplant oncologist, renowned for his expertise in treating upper and lower GI malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), as well as malignancies managed through liver transplantation. As Professor of Medicine in GI Oncology at Weill Cornell Medical College and Chief of GI Medical Oncology at Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Dr. Abdelrahim leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing GI cancer care through innovative clinical trials, with a focus on Phase II/III studies. He is at the forefront of pioneering CAR-T cell therapy for GI cancers, including CCA and CRC, driving groundbreaking advancements in immunotherapy to improve patient outcomes.
As Medical Director of the Cockrell Centers for Advanced Therapeutics, Dr. Abdelrahim oversees the Phase I Clinical Trial Program at Houston Methodist Hospital and Neal Cancer Center, spearheading the development and testing of novel therapeutic agents. His research centers on creating mechanism-based drugs for GI cancers, notably identifying a novel structural class of compounds targeting selective transcription factors, now recognized as critical targets for new anticancer drugs. The lead compound from this class has advanced to a Phase I Clinical Trial, offering new hope for patients with GI malignancies.
Dr. Abdelrahim has authored over 300 original research articles, review articles, and book chapters in prestigious journals and publishing groups. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the “Transplant Oncology” section of Cancers and Associate Editor of Frontiers in Oncology. Additionally, he edited the first-ever book on transplant oncology, Transplant Oncology: A Frontier in Multidisciplinary Cancer Care (1st Ed., Academic Press, Elsevier, December 2024, Amsterdam, Netherlands). As a principal investigator for the Southwest Oncology Cooperative Group at Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, he leads multiple clinical trials focused on chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy for GI cancers.
A member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, and International Liver Transplant Society, Dr. Abdelrahim is a globally recognized leader in oncology. He serves on the editorial boards of several high-impact medical journals, further shaping the field through his editorial leadership.
Dr. Abdelrahim’s academic journey includes a Pharm.D. followed by a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. He earned his Medical Degree from Texas A&M University, completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine, and pursued a Medical Oncology fellowship at Duke University, solidifying his expertise in oncology and translational research.
Ashton Connor
Ashton Connor
Dr. Ashton Connor completed medical school and residency in general surgery at the University of Toronto. He completed a fellowship in abdominal transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery at Duke University. Dr. Connor then started on staff at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Dr. Connor also completed a doctorate at the University of Toronto. His research interest is in the application of data science and genomics to studying oncology and immunology.
Dan Duda
Dan Duda
Dr. Duda obtained a DMD from the University of Medicine in Iasi, Romania, in 1993, and a PhD in Medical Sciences (with a focus on GI Surgery) from Tohoku University School of Medicine in Sendai, Japan, in 2001. After graduation, he pursued postdoctoral research at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston (2001-2004). He became a Junior Faculty member at Harvard (Instructor) in 2004 and then rose to Full Investigator at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Research Institute in 2016, and Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School in 2023. From 2016 to 2025, he served as the Director of Translational Research in Gastrointestinal (GI) Radiation Oncology at MGH. He received the Doctor Honoris Causa honorary degree from his alma mater, the University of Medicine Iasi, Romania, in 2021, and a Master of Arts honorary degree from Harvard University in 2023. In 2025, Dr. Duda joined the Houston Methodist Hospital as the Scientific Director of Transplant Oncology and Therapeutics.
The research of Dr. Duda’s laboratory focuses on tumor interactions with their microenvironments, aiming to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms of tumor progression and treatment resistance in GI cancers. The goal is to identify and validate combination therapy targets in preclinical and correlative clinical studies.
Dr. Duda has been a chartered or ad-hoc Member and Chair or co-chair of the US National Cancer Institute (NCI), American Cancer Society (ACS), US Department of Defense (DOD), American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), and Belgium FWO Med4 panels since 2012. He is an Editorial Board member for several other cancer journals. Since 2015, he has served as the Secretary-General of the International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists and Oncologists (IASGO). In addition, Dr. Duda serves as a member of the NCI Hepatobiliary Task Force for Immuno-Oncology Biomarkers, Chair of the Southwestern Oncology Group (SWOG) Translational Medicine GI Committee, a member of the National Clinical Trials Network Core Correlative Sciences Committee, and a member of the group developing the ESTRO guideline for HCC radiotherapy.
Dr. Duda has authored over 300 publications (current Thomson h-index=83). He is among the top 2% of scientists globally based on a composite score [c-score] of citations, co-authorships, and collaborations. He has been invited to present his results at over 300 local, national, and international meetings, including Grand Rounds, Plenary Talks, and Keynote Lectures at major academic centers in more than 30 countries. Dr. Duda received several awards for his work, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Cancer Research Institute (CRI), IASGO, MGH, and the Granara-Skerry Trust. In 2020, Dr. Duda was inducted into The College of Fellows of the AIMBE, which comprises the top 2% of medical and biological engineers. In 2022, he was elected as a 2021 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); AAAS Fellows are a distinguished cadre of scientists, engineers, and innovators recognized for their achievements across disciplines. In 2023, he was elected as a Fellow of the IASGO (FASGO). He has been an Honorary Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Romania since 2012 and was elected a Foreign Member of the Academy of Europe in 2023. From 2025, he is a Katz Investigator, Jerold B. Katz Academy of Translational Research.
Christine Fark
Christine Fark
Christine Fark, a Clinical Research Supervisor, RN, at MD Anderson has been working as research nurse in Gastroenterology and GI Medical Oncology since 2007. She has been a Clinical Research Supervisor since 2021 , where she oversees and manages Dr. Javle’s and other cholangiocarcinoma investigators’ trials from initial setup to conduct of the trial. In addition to managing trials , she supervises the research coordinators while guiding and assuring upmost customer service, patient safety/compliance and patient care during their cancer journey on the trial. She has been involved in projects on improving screening efforts for hepatobiliary trials , communication to new patients interested in clinical trials, and identifying patient recruitment barriers in hepatobiliary trials.
Mark Ghobrial
Mark Ghobrial
Mark Ghobrial is a Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and Director of the J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center at Houston Methodist, where he also holds the J.C. Walter Jr. Presidential Distinguished Chair. He specializes in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery as well as liver and multi-organ transplantation, providing advanced surgical care and leadership in transplant medicine. Dr. Ghobrial earned his medical degree from Cairo University and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and completed extensive surgical training in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He is a recognized researcher and leader in transplant science with a career dedicated to improving outcomes for patients requiring complex organ transplants.
Milind Javle, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Milind Javle, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Javle is a Professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. He is the Chair of the Southwest Oncology Group Hepatobiliary Committee and member of the NCI task force on Hepatobiliary Cancers. His research interests focus on identifying molecular subtypes of pancreatic and biliary cancers and developing novel therapeutics against these cancers.
(Genotype/Phenotype Initiative Group)
Kamisha Jernigan
Kamisha Jernigan
Kamisha Jernigan, a GI medical oncology research nurse navigator, has been actively involved in research since 2019. As a nurse navigator, she plays a pivotal role in supporting patients and their families in increasing their participation in clinical trials. Her efforts contribute to addressing health inequities by providing comprehensive education and raising awareness about the benefits and importance of clinical trials. She meticulously reviews referrals from physicians, external institutions, and new patients to the institution. Additionally, she assists in identifying recruitment barriers while ensuring the utmost patient safety.
Eugene Koay
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Eugene Koay
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Koay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Co-Director of Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology for the MD Anderson Cancer Network. His research interests focus on designing clinical trials to make various radiotherapy technologies more effective with fewer side effects and use of quantitative diagnostic imaging and machine learning for early detection of hepatobiliary cancers.
(Big Data, AI, and Real-World Evidence Initiative Group)
Sudha Kodali, MD
Houston Methodist
Sudha Kodali, MD
Houston Methodist
Dr. Sudha Kodali, MBBS, MSPH, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and a transplant hepatologist and gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist Academic Medicine Associates in Houston, Texas. She specializes in liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and liver transplantation, and is dedicated to comprehensive patient-centered care and multidisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Kodali earned her medical degree from NTR University of Medical Sciences (Siddhartha Medical College) in India, completed her residency and fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and holds board certifications in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and transplant hepatology. She is actively involved in clinical practice, research, and academic leadership within Houston Methodist and affiliated centers.
Stacie Lindsey
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Stacie Lindsey
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Stacie’s brother, Mark Clements, was diagnosed in 2005 and ultimately passed away from Cholangiocarcinoma on January 19, 2007. Stacie advocated for her brother, extensively researched treatment options, and began networking with other patients, scientists, and healthcare professionals. From this experience, the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation was born.
Stacie is a founding member and has served on the Board of Directors since its inception. Stacie resides in Lehi, Utah, where she has five children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University and studied nonprofit leadership at Harvard Business School. Stacie is an active member of her church and community.
Ethan Ludmir
Ethan Ludmir
Ethan Ludmir MD is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Gastrointestinal Radiation Oncology and Biostatistics at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He specializes in the design and execution of clinical trials, and leads multiple phase II/III trials in the treatment of gastrointestinal and metastatic malignances, including pancreatic
cancer, biliary tract cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Stephanie Moore
Stephanie Moore
I earned a BS at Baylor University in Nutrition and later earned a Master’s Degree from Texas Woman’s University in Nutrition Sciences. I have practiced as a Registered Clinical Dietitian for 17 years. For the last 10 years I have had the privilege of working in the Ambulatory Gastrointestinal Clinic at MD Anderson Cancer Center and during that time obtained my certification as a Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO). I am passionate about helping my patients and their care givers live healthy and nutritious lives throughout their cancer journey.
Timothy Newhook
Timothy Newhook
Timothy E. Newhook, MD, FACS is an Assistant Professor of Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where he focuses on Hepatobiliary Surgery and Surgical Oncology.
Dr. Newhook, originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed General Surgery Residency, as well as a 2-year T32 Research Fellowship in Surgical Oncology, at the University of Virginia. He then went onto complete fellowships in both Complex General Surgical Oncology and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
His research efforts have focused on prospective trials for patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery for cancer as Principle Investigator of multiple clinical trials focusing on biomarker-driven care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, as well as perioperative quality improvement. Moreover, Dr. Newhook conducts multiple clinical and translational initiatives for patients with hepatobiliary malignancies, particularly liver metastases from colorectal cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. In particular, Dr. Newhook is focused on characterizing the impact that circulating tumor DNA may have on prognostication, treatment selection, and sequencing for patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.
Dr. Newhook is the Associate Patient Safety and Quality Officer for the Department of Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson as well as the Medical Director for Surgical Oncology and Colorectal Surgery inpatient floor. Beyond clinical operations, Dr. Newhook is currently the Associate Program Director for the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery Fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Bruno C. Odisio
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Bruno C. Odisio
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Bruno C. Odisio, MD, PhD, FSIR, FCIRSE, is a Professor and Co-Director of Research in the Department of Interventional Radiology — Division of Diagnostic Imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He leads and practices minimally invasive, image-guided therapies for liver cancers, including percutaneous ablation, chemoembolization, and radioembolization — offering curative-intent and palliative care for primary and metastatic liver malignancies. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Odisio directs the Image Guided Cancer Therapy (IGCT) Research Program at MD Anderson, driving advances in imaging-guided cancer treatments.
Toni Pham
Toni Pham
Toni Pham, legacy caregiver to her sister Nicole, has been volunteering with CCF since 2019 in various capacities including research advocate, mentor and serving on the Houston CARE team. When Nicole was first diagnosed in February 2018, Toni learned about the importance of biomarker testing and the hope of clinical trials. She researched trial options which ultimately led to Nicole being the first cholangiocarcinoma patient on her clinical trial – that drug is now FDA approved for HER2+ BTC. An attorney by trade, Toni’s passion is for patient advocacy and helping others. Her greatest joy is mentoring patients and caregivers, especially those interested in clinical trials as she is a believer in the hope of clinical trials and advancing the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.
Fen Saj
Fen Saj
Dr. Fen Saj is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he conducts translational and clinical research focused on cholangiocarcinoma, biliary tract cancers, and pancreatic cancer. Trained as a medical oncologist in India with an MBBS from Christian Medical College Vellore, an MD in Internal Medicine from PGIMER Chandigarh, and a DM in Medical Oncology from JIPMER, he has previously served as an attending oncologist and contributed to multidisciplinary cancer-care programs across several leading centers. Dr. Saj has received numerous national and international awards, including travel grants from EHA, ESMO Asia, and BMT conferences, and distinctions in the ISMPO Young Oncology Scholar Award. He is an active reviewer for multiple oncology journals, has presented widely at global conferences such as ASCO and EHA, and has authored peer-reviewed research spanning gastrointestinal malignancies, hematologic cancers, and early-phase clinical trials.
Nakul Shah
Nakul Shah
Dr. Nakul Shah is currently a medical oncology fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He completed medical school and internal medicine residency at Washington University in St. Louis. During his training, Dr. Shah participated in research focused on finding shared targets for vaccine development. Currently, his research is focused on understanding barriers to immunotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma and identifying novel surface targets.
Janio Szklaruk
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Janio Szklaruk
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Janio Szklaruk, M.D. Ph.D is a Professor in the Department of Abdominal Imaging, Division of Diagnostic Imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He earned his MD from Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry. Dr. Szklaruk specializes in oncologic imaging with a focus on advanced MRI techniques for hepatobiliary (liver and related organ) tumors. In addition to clinical work, he is an experienced educator and researcher, having published extensively and spoken at national and international imaging conferences.
Hop S. Tran Cao
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Hop S. Tran Cao
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Hop S. Tran Cao, MD, FACS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He earned his MD from University of California, San Diego School of Medicine in 2005, followed by a General Surgery residency there, and completed a fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson.
Dr. Tran Cao specializes in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and neuroendocrine cancers, with a strong focus on minimally invasive and precision-driven surgical techniques. In addition to his clinical work, he is deeply engaged in research — publishing extensively on cancer surgery outcomes, guiding the use of fluorescence-guided surgery, and leading multiple NIH- and foundation-funded studies.
He also contributes to medical education and institutional leadership: he previously developed the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) training curriculum, directs the MIS training committee, and serves on several key institutional and surgical-oncology committees.
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