Quantitative Oncology Research Program

Oregon Health & Science University, Portland OR

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: Quantitative Oncology Research Program Paul Spellman, Ph.D., and Laura Heiser, Ph.D., Program Co-Leaders The Quantitative Oncology (QO) Program is a multi-disciplinary research program formed to facilitate the development of advanced technologies for cancer measurements and treatment, deeply characterize the molecular and phenotypic states of cancers, and apply computational models to predict cancer behaviors and outcomes. Program members develop and apply advances in ‘omic and imaging technologies, coupled with big data analytics to enable quantitative understanding of the behavior of cancerous cells and tissues as they evolve, respond to therapy, and interact with their microenvironments. This collaborative research program is organized around three themes: 1) Technology Development (imaging, devices, and single-cell analyses), 2) Omics and Characterization (comprehensive assessment of cancer cells and tissues), and 3) Systems Biology (properties of cancer-related molecular networks, the molecular and cellular phenotypes they regulate, and their evolution and adaptation during cancer development and treatment). QO research and innovation provides a strong foundation for advances in the strategic priorities of the Knight Cancer Institute (KCI), Precision Early Detection and Precision Oncology. The expertise in QO is essential to the development and deployment of tools for comprehensive tumor analytics and the computational methodologies critical to detect early cancers, discover predictors of response/resistance to therapy, and drive novel combination therapy approaches. The QO Program is co-led by Paul Spellman, Ph.D., an expert in the application of translational cancer genomics to cancer detection and classification, and Laura Heiser, Ph.D., an expert in cancer systems biology and imaging technologies. The QO Program has 44 members drawn from six basic science departments and four clinical departments in the OHSU School of Medicine, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Total cancer-related direct cost funding as of December 31, 2020 was $6,589,354, with peer-reviewed funding of $5,904,119, and $3,469,050 or 59% of peer-reviewed funding coming from the NCI. The discoveries made in this program have resulted in 507 publications, of which 27% are intra-programmatic collaborations, 48% are inter-programmatic collaborations, and 47% are inter-institutional. Program members have leading roles in many major NCI initiatives, including the Cancer Systems Biology Centers, the Genome Data Analysis Network and Human Tumor Atlas Network, and the Biden Cancer Moonshot grant, Evaluation of Population Based Testing for HBOC and Lynch Syndromes. Program members have leadership roles in data science initiatives including Galaxy and AnVIL, the NHGRI’s Genomic Data Science Analysis, Visualization, and Informatics Lab-space.