Department of Cancer Biology

The Department of Cancer Biology is a recently developed basic science department in the School of Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. The missions of our department are:

1. To build a strong team of basic researchers with a collaborative and translational mindset who will discover fundamental characteristics of cancer cells that can eventually lead to novel therapeutic and preventive approaches which reduce cancer incidence, morbidities and/or mortality;

2. To understand the molecular genetic and epigenetic, biochemical, cellular and physiologic bases of cancer etiology and progression;

3. To understand the interactions between tumor cells and the microenvironments in which they find themselves;

4. To educate the next generation of cancer researchers, clinicians and patients;

5. To apply, as quickly as possible, fundamental research discoveries to patient care.

Our department is funded by grants from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Department of Defense, V-Foundation, the National Foundation for Cancer Research and from generous donations from patients, family and friends of the KU Cancer Center.

The Department of Cancer Biology is the home department for multi-departmental and institutional MS and PhD graduate programs. Students can choose from any funded graduate faculty member whose lab is doing cancer research in the KU Cancer Center. Details regarding admission and degree requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. programs can be found on their respective catalog pages.