GeneTex's Founding Scientists

Joel B. Baseman, Ph.D. is a distinguished infectious disease researcher whose primary interest is Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MPN). Dr. Baseman’s lab discovered the CARDS toxin in MPN, a virulence factor with a unique combination of enzymatic, functional, and host response features that appears to be involved in various airway diseases. He was the Chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at U.T. Health San Antonio for 33 years, and was the Director of the NIH-funded SA-AADCRC (San Antonio-Asthma and Allergic Diseases Cooperative Research Center).

C. Kent Osborne, M.D. is a clinical oncologist and research scientist whose focus is the biology, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. He is the Founding Director of the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Dudley and Tina Sharp Chair for Cancer Research, and a Professor of Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Osborne was also Director of the Duncan Cancer Center for 15 years before stepping down in 2020. Under his leadership the Duncan Cancer Center attained the esteemed distinction of being named a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute.

Wen-Hwa Lee, Ph.D. began his illustrious research career studying RNA tumor viruses before making his momentous discovery of the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor protein. He continues to publish high-impact studies on cancer biology, with particular emphasis on breast and pancreatic malignancies. In addition to previously being on the faculties of several universities in the United States, Dr. Lee has most recently served as a Distinguished Professor at the Academia Sinica as well as President of China Medical University.

Eva Y. Lee, Ph.D. is one of the co-discoverers of the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor gene and established her career studying the mechanistic complexities of DNA repair and cell cycle regulation relevant to oncogenesis. She went on to become a preeminent authority on breast cancer, particularly the genetics of the BRCA genes and other tumor suppressors as well as the actions of hormone receptors. She was most recently a Chancellor’s Professor at the U.C. Irvine School of Medicine prior to becoming Chair of the Board at GeneTex, Inc.