Advancing every stage of cancer research

Basic cancer research lays the foundation for new discoveries in cancer development and progression. These discoveries in turn inform translational research, including the development of new therapies to treat cancer.

At OHSU, the Discovery and Translational Oncology team spans cancer research from traditional wet labs to innovative clinical trials. We work as a community to harness each discovery to help patients.

What you can expect

When you join us as faculty, a trainee or a team member, you’ll focus on:

Basic research: Understanding how cancer forms and progresses to identify targets for therapy.

Tumor models: Using advanced culture systems, mouse models and biofabrication.

Drug development: Combining in-house development with industry partnerships to help advance new drugs.

You’ll work with experts in:

• Cancer immunology
• Chemical biology
• Early biology of cancer
• Experimental therapeutics
• Precision biofabrication
• Targeted therapies

You’ll also find a culture of open and equitable collaboration, mentorship and training.

Our research

Our research bridges disciplines and invites collaboration.  Here are a few examples.

Leading-edge technologies: We use advanced bioengineering to find new ways to study cancer, such as:

• A “tooth-on-a-chip” model to study aggressive oral cancer
• 3D printing of blood vessels for research on the link between blood vessel dysfunction and cancer

Cancer drugs: We’re working to develop drugs for multiple cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer, acute myeloid leukemia and rare blood cancers. We provide a hands-on cancer drug development training programfor M.D. and Ph.D. postdoctoral fellows.

Blood cancers: We’re researching multiple aspects of blood cancers, including:

• Understanding how missing chromosome pieces can lead to blood disorders
• Identifying new therapeutic targets in hematologic malignancies

B cells: We’re exploring how immune cells called B cells influence immune response and disease progression in cancer and other conditions.

Prostate cancer: Our work on treatment resistance in metastatic prostate cancer includes understanding relapse at the cellular level and testing new drug combinations.

About us

Discovery and Translational Oncology is part of the Division of Oncological Sciences. The division is an OHSU School of Medicine unit supported by the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.

Meet the Discovery and Translational Oncology faculty.