Modeling Cancer: Stem cells to therapy
61 Cancer Center members include faculty, research scientists and adjunct members who collectively hold nearly 150 research grants totaling over $60 million.
Our single program encompasses research on initiating mechanisms that program cancer stem cells; tumor progression; and factors contributing to cancer therapy effectiveness.
Two major themes underpin our current cancer research. One is to understand how genome organization and variation determine individual susceptibility to cancer and associated conditions. The other is to identify molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive cancer initiation and progression. Research on these interconnected themes is based on the mouse, uses both forward and reverse genetics, and increasingly involves comparative, in silico approaches.
Cancer initiation
Jackson Cancer Center members are identifying the initial events that begin the transformation of normal to cancer cells, and examining the nature of the cancer-initiating cell.
Disease progression
Cancer Center members are identifying factors either intrinsic to the tumor or at play in the host that influence cancer susceptibility and tumor progression.
Detection and therapy
The objective of this research is to develop and test improved methods for cancer detection and therapy and to conduct basic research pertinent to health issues faced by cancer survivors.
Publications
Selected publications by Cancer Center members 2006-present.
