Department Research Initiatives
This is an extraordinary time in cancer research. Dramatic gains have been made in the understanding of cancer as a multi-faceted genetic disease, intersected by multiple signaling pathways, and driven by a myriad of molecular hallmarks that affect virtually every aspect of cell biology.
The department's goal is to capitalize on these advances and contribute an integrated cellular, genetic and molecular framework to understand cancer as an all-encompassing cellular pathway. This cannot be accomplished without a strong underlying philosophy of scientific cooperation, collaboration, and integration. While no research is done in a vacuum, cancer research above all must be cooperative as it encompasses so many disparate biological systems.
Our faculty members are not only among the most accomplished investigators in basic cancer research, but they also share a teamwork vision of research collaboration and scientific synergy.
The Cancer Biology research programs address all the central molecular hallmarks of cancer,
from dysregulation of checkpoint gatekeepers to modulation of cancer cell survival,
from crosstalk between cells and extracellular matrix in the tumor microenvironment to the role of DNA damage in cell cycle progression,
from mimicry of tumor genetics in animal models to solving how new blood vessels in tumors are formed.
The integrated framework and collaborative philosphy uniquely position the Department of Cancer Biology at the interface between basic and translational research through a commitment to scientific education, training and career development in cancer research.
The department currently has active research initiatives in the following programs:
The Department of Cancer Biology's research is currently supported by the following federal and non-federal sponsors:
National Cancer Institute
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
U.S. Army DAMD
American Cancer Society
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Merck Research Laboratories, Inc.
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
W. M. Keck Foundation