As a medical oncologist, my clinical interests are in clinical/translational research in cancers of the digestive system. Our gastrointestinal (GI) oncology team has launched investigator-initiated clinical trials that directly evolved from preclinical observations in the laboratory. We established a highly collaborative basic, translational and clinical research infrastructure at OHSU that is critical for the success of multidisciplinary GI oncology research. My basic and clinical research efforts have allowed me to serve as a key bridge between my clinician colleagues and my basic science colleagues. From this perspective, we have been able to assemble an outstanding team of multidisciplinary investigators that will focus on novel approaches to treating GI cancers.