Cancer Biology Program

Duke University, Durham NC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The Cancer Biology (CB) Program is a new program established in 2021, in part through the merger of components of the previous Tumor Biology and Cancer Genetics and Genomics Programs. The CB program serves as the epicenter of basic cancer research at the Duke Cancer Institute. The 58 full members of the CB program integrate strengths in basic science across 16 departments and 4 schools within Duke University. These include genetic and tissue engineering, bioinformatics and computational biology, developmental cell biology, virology and innate immunology, metabolism, biochemistry, cell signaling, DNA replication, repair, and transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation. The multi-disciplinary CB program aims to provide a mechanistic understanding of the entire cancer continuum encompassing tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and emergence of therapy resistance. The long-term goal of the CB program is to provide support to the faculty and trainees across the basic sciences enabling innovative, high-impact collaborative cancer research. To achieve this goal, we focus on three specific aims: 1) Characterize the underlying molecular genetic processes that promote carcinogenesis; 2) Define the mechanisms in cellular signaling and metabolism that promote tumor development, recurrence, and metastasis; 3) Train the next generation of cancer researchers. To achieve the goals of the third aim, we have developed a robust program of mentoring activities and career development workshops for CB trainees in partnership with the DCI CRTEC. The CB program is home to two T32 programs, the Viral Oncology Training Program and the Pharmacology Scientist Training Program. CB works closely with COE to ensure that our research is relevant to the DCI catchment area priorities and participating in bi-directional communications with our catchment area community. Accomplishments over this grant period include: 1) Recruitment of leading cancer biologists Trudy Oliver, PhD and Greg Wang, PhD to Duke University in the areas of tumor cell plasticity, metabolism and epigenetics; 2) Successfully competing for new collaborative awards including a U01 award on the role of EBV and tumor cell heterogeneity in non-Hodgkin Lymphomas, a DOD partnering PI award on breast cancer brain metastasis, a P01 on molecular alterations contributing to CCM pathogenesis, and U54 award on fusion proteins in rhabdomyosarcoma; 3) Generating a new mechanism to increase recruitment of junior faculty through the creation of the Duke Next Generation Leaders by CB program members. Total direct funding for primary program members is $19M, of which $17.9M is peer-reviewed, including $6.3 M from the NCI. Since the inception of the program in 2021 through 2023, program members published 337 cancer-focused papers, 45 (13%) are intra-programmatic, 112 (33%) are inter-programmatic collaborations and 117 (35%) are in journals with impact factor over 10.