Research Programs

The Masonic Cancer Center's research programs bring together scientists from different disciplines to discover specific processes that affect cancer. Their discoveries lead to better ways to treat and prevent cancer.

Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention

The scientific goal of this program is to explain mechanisms by which carcinogens cause tumors and to use that knowledge to develop and evaluate approaches to cancer prevention. The program is part of the Masonic Cancer Center's Population Sciences Program.

 

Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer

Members of this program work to understand how mutant genes cause cancer and to test gene therapies. They investigate what occurs inside the cells to trigger cancer and what can be done to stop these processes before cancer begins.

 

Immunology

Members of this program work to enlist the body's own immune system to fight cancer by focusing on tumor immunology, immunotherapy, and on white blood cell development and behavior. Their goal is to uncover answers about these areas that can lead to effective new anticancer immunotherapies.

 

Prevention and Etiology

The goals of this program include: identify risk factors for cancer; evaluate strategies for early detection; develop and test approaches for cancer prevention; and reduce untoward effects of living with cancer and improve quality of life for cancer survivors. The Prevention and Etiology Research Program also includes the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center and the Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer. The Prevention and Etiology program is part of the Masonic Cancer Center's Population Sciences Program.

 

Transplant Biology and Therapy

Through basic research in stem cell biology and immunology, members of the Transplant Biology and Therapy Program work together to discover new stem cell transplantation therapies and treatments for cancers relating to the blood and bone marrow. This program represents the research arm of the University of Minnesota's world-famous Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program. The Transplant Biology and Therapy Research Program includes the Umbilical Cord Transplant Program.

 

Tumor Biology and Progression

Members of this program focus on three areas: The biology of tumor growth and survival, prostate cancer development and treatment, and development of novel therapies to improve the treatment of various cancers of the blood and bone, and solid tissue tumors.

 

Women's Cancer

Members of this program work to improve detection, treatment, and prevention of women's cancers in order to improve outcomes. Toward that end, they seek to discover improved methods for early detection, understand the biology of breast and gynecologic cancers, and enhance treatment through more precisely targeted therapies.