A systems biology approach to understanding and treating cancer

OCCSB involves top scientists from across many disciplines to develop better methods of detecting and treating cancers. A systems biology approach means a comprehensive look at all spatial scales, from the tiniest (molecular level) through the whole person, over time. Learn more about the OCSSB.
News and announcements
- Ph.D. students Jennifer (Jenny) Eng, and Elliot Gray attended the National Cancer Institute 2020 Junior Investigator Meeting for the Cancer Systems Biology Consortium, Physical Sciences-Oncology Network, and Big Data Scientist Training Enhancement Program in August, and win awards.
- OCSSB Director among 2020 AACR Team Science Award recipients (August 2020)
OCSSB Director Dr. Joe Gray and CEDAR Co-Director Dr. Paul Spellman received 2020 AACR Team Science Awards for their work on the Cancer Genome Atlas. (July 2020)
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John Muschler, Ph.D. receives Technology Transfer awards for travel and development (OHSU Research News, December 18)
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How Precision Oncology Is Making Strides in the Fight Against Cancer (by Micron, Great Big Story, November 2019)
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Cryo-EM technology helps elucidate KATP channel pharmacology, with implications for drug development (OHSU Now, November 1)
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Dr. Joe Gray research on metastatic breast cancer funded by Komen (OHSU, September 17)
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Cryo-Em: Powerful microscopes at OHSU allow scientists to push the bounds of biology (Portland Business Journal, Sept. 27) and OHSU receives $6M NIH grant to enhance high-resolution imaging (Sept. 13) and OHSU News
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Xiaolin Nan, Ph.D. among eight promising cancer researchers named Lamfrom Laureates (OHSU, September 10)
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Dr. Laura Heiser appointed Vice Chair of the Biomedical Engineering Department (OHSU OCSSB, July 22)
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Summer Gibbs funded by Biomedical Innovation Program for “Near infrared nerve-specific probes enable improved surgical outcomes” (OHSU Research News, July 3)
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Jenny Eng, graduate student, Gibbs Lab, awarded the Exceptional Student Award for her presentation at the 34th Congress of the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (June 26)
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Jenny Eng, Ph.D. student, Gibbs Lab, wins Research Week poster presentation award for “Immune-tumor spatial architecture in breast cancer” (OHSU Research News, June 19)
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Dr. Joe Gray testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance in Washington D.C., at the invitation of Senator Ron Wyden, to address the importance of international collaboration in scientific research Read Dr. Gray’s article (OHSU News, June 17)
View testimony video and details (US Senate Committee on Finance, June 5)
Centers within the OCSSB
Multiple OCSSB projects have been designated national Research Centers by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) or the National Institute of Health:
- The Measuring, Modeling, and Controlling Heterogeneity (M2CH) Center for Cancer System Biology, a U54 Reseach Center of the NCI Cancer Systems Biology Consortium.
- Omic and Multidimensional Spatial Atlas of Metastatic Breast Cancer, or OMS Atlas, an NCI Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN) Research Center.
- The Pacific Northwest Center for Cryo-EM (PNCC), a National CryoEM Center.
- The Microenvironment Perturbagen (MEP) NIH Library of Integrated Network-based cellular signature Center, known as LINCS.
- The Serial Measurements of Molecular and Architectural Responses to Therapy (SMMART) program is the flagship project of the Knight Cancer Institute’s Precision Oncology program.
Learn more about OCSSB research.
Faculty publications links
Joe Gray, Ph.D.
MyNCBI | Patents: USPTO
Laura Heiser, Ph.D.
MyNCBI
Young Hwan Chang, Ph.D.
Google Scholar
Sunjong Kwon, Ph.D.
MyNCBI
Summer Gibbs, Ph.D.
MyNCBI
Kwang-Yung Chen (Koei Chin), M.D., Ph.D.
MyNCBI
Heidi Feiler, Ph.D.
MyNCBI
Xiaolin Nan, Ph.D.
MyNCBI | Google Scholar
Guillaume Thibault, Ph.D.
Thibault lab lists of publications
Craig Yoshioka, Ph.D.
MyNCBI
Catherine Galbraith, Ph.D.
Google Scholar
James (Jim) Galbraith, Ph.D.
MyNCBI
Jim Korkola, Ph.D.
MyNCBI
Multiscale Microscopy Core housed within OCSSB
The Multiscale Microscopy Core is a state-of-the-art electron microscopy research core established in 2013 by the OCSSB and FEI (now ThermoFisher Scientific). The MMC provides electron microscopy, related imaging services and technical support to both academic and industry professionals. Learn more about the MMC.