Division of Cancer Biology

The Division of Cancer Biology (DCB) supports basic research in all areas of cancer biology at academic institutions and research foundations across the United States. As part of the National Cancer Institute, DCB provides funding for research that investigates the basic biology behind cancer.

Research in the field of basic cancer biology focuses on the mechanisms that underlie fundamental processes such as cell growth, the transformation of normal cells to cancer cells, and the spread, or metastasis, of cancer cells. This research provides the building blocks to new treatments, clinical trials, and improved understanding of the disease. Basic research has enabled much of the progress made over the years in the search for a cure for cancer.