University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center
Encyclopedia
The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) is a collaborative research program based in Hyde Park
, Chicago
, USA. The UCCCC cancer
research program involves about 225 scientists and physician researchers at or affiliated with the University of Chicago
.
The UCCCC is one of 40 comprehensive cancer centers in the United States as designated by the National Cancer Institute
of the National Institutes of Health. In 2010, U.S. News & World Report once again gave the UChicago cancer program high marks, ranking it #15 in the nation.
The first cancer research center director was John Ultmann whose specialty was the diagnosis, staging and treatment of Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as the development of cancer chemotherapy. Currently, the director is Michelle Le Beau who accepted the position in 2004. Le Beau launched and implemented a strategic plan that helped the UCCCC expand the scope of its research programs, as well as launch a comprehensive community engagement program to enhance public awareness about cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and the role of genetics in cancer risk. Le Beau's work has been in therapy-related cancers.
UChicago accomplishments include landmark prostate cancer treatment in 1939, the identification of the first chromosomal abnormality in leukemia in 1972, the 1988 discovery of the molecular mechanism by which tamoxifen blocks the effects of estrogen, and the 2008 development of a new MRI procedure that can detect early breast cancer.
Hyde Park, Chicago
Hyde Park, located on the South Side of the City of Chicago, in Cook County, Illinois, United States and seven miles south of the Chicago Loop, is a Chicago neighborhood and one of 77 Chicago community areas. It is home to the University of Chicago, the Hyde Park Art Center, the Museum of Science...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, USA. The UCCCC cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
research program involves about 225 scientists and physician researchers at or affiliated with the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
History
The UCCCC was originally founded in 1973 as The University of Chicago Cancer Research Center, and, after earning its Comprehensive Cancer Center designation, was renamed The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2010.The UCCCC is one of 40 comprehensive cancer centers in the United States as designated by the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
of the National Institutes of Health. In 2010, U.S. News & World Report once again gave the UChicago cancer program high marks, ranking it #15 in the nation.
The first cancer research center director was John Ultmann whose specialty was the diagnosis, staging and treatment of Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as the development of cancer chemotherapy. Currently, the director is Michelle Le Beau who accepted the position in 2004. Le Beau launched and implemented a strategic plan that helped the UCCCC expand the scope of its research programs, as well as launch a comprehensive community engagement program to enhance public awareness about cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and the role of genetics in cancer risk. Le Beau's work has been in therapy-related cancers.
Scientific Programs
UCCCC investigators are organized into six integrated scientific programs that take advantage of resources throughout the university, the University of Chicago Medical Center, and other scientific and medical communities:- Program 1: Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer
- Program 2: Hematopoiesis and Hematological Malignancies
- Program 3: Immunology and Cancer
- Program 4: Pharmacogenomics and Experimental Therapeutics
- Program 5: Advanced Imaging
- Program 6: Cancer Risk and Prevention
Clinical Trials
The UCCCC is currently involved in more than 300 cancer clinical trials and encourages participation in the clinical trials by community oncologists and minority populations through a network of affiliated hospitals. Researchers also strive to eliminate health disparities among ethnic and social groups that compose areas surrounding the UChicago campus.Accomplishments
The University of Chicago has been the site of extraordinary breakthroughs. Scientists are proving that transforming breakthroughs in prevention will originate from the newfound understanding of the human genome. Using systems-level science to decipher the interplay among vast networks of genes, the environment, and other factors will enable researchers to map the causes of cancer, predict cancer risks for individuals, and design personalized treatment approaches.UChicago accomplishments include landmark prostate cancer treatment in 1939, the identification of the first chromosomal abnormality in leukemia in 1972, the 1988 discovery of the molecular mechanism by which tamoxifen blocks the effects of estrogen, and the 2008 development of a new MRI procedure that can detect early breast cancer.