The mission of the University of Virginia Cancer Center
is to uncover the fundamental molecular basis of cancer initiation and
progression, move new knowledge into clinical application and research,
and provide compassionate contemporary cancer care and education. We
are at a historic inflection point in cancer care and research. Advances
in understanding the molecular and cellular basis of cancer, the human
genome project, and information technology have given us tools to detect,
treat, diagnose, and prevent cancer in ways that were only dreamed of
a decade ago. We anticipate a time when cancer therapies and preventives
are specific, non-toxic, and customized for each person, based on scientific
profiling of that individual's molecular makeup and the molecular makeup
of the tumor. At the University of Virginia Cancer Center we draw on
deep scientific strengths, a robust patient-centered architecture of
care, and a tradition of collaboration and compassion to bring the future
of cancer care closer to today.
The University of Virginia has a long tradition of
collaboration and teamwork, which has helped us establish
a team-based approach to research and care. We bring together almost
200 faculty members
from 30 Departments in the School of Medicine, School
of Nursing and the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, and of Engineering,
who are organized
into Six basic/translational research Programs, and
one translational/clinical Program. The basic/translational Programs
represent key scientific foci
important for understanding cancer: 1. Cell Signaling;
2. Endocrinology; 3. Immunology; 4. Migration and Metastasis; 5. Structural
Biology; 6.
Molecular Genetics. The translational/clinical Program
is Developmental Therapeutics, and has strong research activities in
Immunotherapy, Molecularly
Targeted Therapies, Biomarkers, and Imaging. The
research is supported by 14 Shared Resource facilities: Advanced Microscopy,
DNA Sciences,
Flow Cytometry, Lymphocyte Culture, Mass Spectrometry,
Protein Sciences, Small Animal MultiModaity Imaging, Tissue Culture,
Gene Targeting & Transgenic,
Research Histology, Molecular Assessment & Preclinical Studies,
Tissue Procurement, Biostatistics, and the Clinical Trials Office.
As an academic medical center, UVa brings the vital
elements of patient care, research and education
to bear in the fight against cancer – a fight far from over.
In spite of tremendous progress in some forms of
cancer, nationwide half of all patients diagnosed
this year will die from cancer. This propels us
to accelerate our efforts to work with our colleagues throughout
the state
and nation so that the
revolutionary improvements in cancer care that
have benefited some, can benefit all people with cancer. |
