Growth Regulation of Cancer (GRC) Program

Overview | Leaders | Accomplishments | Publications

Program Overview

The overall goal of the Growth Regulation of Cancer (GRC) Program is to understand the pathophysiological pathways that lead to cancer development. The GRC Program focuses on three specific scientific aims intended to:

Aim 1: Identify how hormonal and growth factor signaling pathways individually and collaboratively modulate cancer development and progression.

Aim 2: Define and compare genetic pathways that determine cell fate in normal, dysplastic and cancer cells.

Aim 3: Utilize oncogenic viruses to identify pathways of malignant progression and methods to interfere with these pathways.

The GRC Program fosters scientific collaboration among its members using various mechanisms, including monthly meetings, scientific seminars, and other means of information exchange. Training and education continue to be pillars of the GRC program. Undergraduate, masters, pre doctoral and post-doctoral fellows are trained in GRC laboratories, and many continue working in cancer related research upon their program completion.

The GRC Program adds to Lombardi expertise in the use of molecular genetics and tumor biology to define pathophysiological pathways leading to cancer development. For example, discoveries in this basic science program have been translated into the first preventative vaccine against a human oncogenic virus.