Our Staff
Denise Byrum M.S., M.B.A.
Senior Director, Operations & Organizational Development
Denise Wells Byrum, M.B.A., M.S., LSSBB, joined us in October 2024 to serve as Senior Director of Operations and Organizational Development. Her work focuses on strengthening research operations, supporting scientific programs, and advancing organizational effectiveness in service of cancer research and education.
With more than 20 years of experience in research administration and operations leadership, Denise has worked extensively in grant management, laboratory operations, process improvement, and cross-functional team leadership. Prior to joining Wood Hudson, she spent over 15 years with Shriners Children’s Cincinnati, where she managed research operations and supported complex pre-clinical and clinical research initiatives.
Denise holds dual master’s degrees, including an M.B.A. in Project Management from Northern Kentucky University and an M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, and is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Her professional approach combines scientific understanding with operational strategy, emphasizing collaboration, continuous improvement, and sustainable organizational practices.
Mary Kate Gehret, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist, Lead UREP Instructor
Dr. Mary Kate Gehret serves as Staff Scientist and Lead UREP instructor. She specializes in cancer research on what drives resistance to KRAS targeting drugs, as related specifically to colorectal cancer. She joined Wood Hudson in late 2025 after completing her doctoral studies.
Dr. Gehret earned a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Bioengineering from the University of Dayton. She received her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Experimental Therapeutics from the University of Cincinnati in 2025. Her research has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications, and she is actively involved in mentoring UREP students and advancing the cancer research program. She resides in the Cincinnati area with her husband.