The Department of Surgery celebrated the retirement of research faculty members H. Sam Zhou, Ph.D. and X. Mei Rao, MD on June 7, 2019. In 2002, they joined the research team of Dr. Kelly McMasters and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center to conduct research in the field of cancer gene therapy. Working closely with his wife, X. Mei Rao, MD, Dr. Zhou has had continuous research funding throughout his career in the Department of Surgery at UofL, including his work as Principal Investigator on a $1 million NIH R01 grant funded from 2009-2014. Together, their work on oncolytic virus replication and cancer gene therapy resulted in multiple high-quality publications and major contributions to science.

"Dr. Zhou and Dr. Rao have dedicated their careers to the fight against cancer and have made significant contributions to the field," said Dr. McMasters. "It is our honor to celebrate their careers."