Cancer Biology

MD Anderson’s Cancer Biology department has a long history of being a leader in the field of basic and translational cancer biology research. The department emphasizes the training of students, postdoctoral fellows and clinical fellows in the fundamentals of tumor biology to improve the outcomes of patients with malignancies. The department has built a program with close ties to many clinical departments to facilitate information exchange between the laboratory and the clinic. As such, faculty in the department are investigators on NIH-funded collaborative cancer biology research grants called “Specialized Programs of Research Excellence” (SPOREs). In addition, there are several physician-scientists who have joint appointments in Cancer Biology, facilitating the exchange of clinically relevant information between the laboratory and the clinic.

The Cancer Biology department also serves as the “anchor” department for the Metastasis Research Center, an integrated program involving investigators throughout MD Anderson. One of our faculty members has a laboratory in the Smith Research Building, where numerous core facilities (vivarium, electron microscope core, etc.) are at the investigator’s disposal. Together with the Metastasis Research Center, the Cancer Biology research department holds a weekly seminar series where nationally and internationally recognized investigators provide formal lectures, and faculty and trainees present data in progress. The department also sponsors sciChat, a “chalkboard” talk featuring stories of the career trajectory and scientific pursuit from our distinguished speakers. The Smith Lectureship, sponsored by the department and the Metastasis Research Center, is an annual endowed lecture that highlights the work of internationally-recognized leaders in the field of cancer biology research.

In addition to their cancer biology research, the faculty are dedicated to educating and training the next generation of top-tier cancer investigators and in making a difference in the lives of patients with cancer. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows play a vital role in departmental activities, and many faculty members have won teaching awards from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.