ABSTRACT: MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY REGULATION AND APPROACHES PROGRAM (MORA) The Molecular Oncology Regulation and Approaches (MORA) Program makes mechanistic discoveries of cancer pathogenesis related primarily to gene, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional regulatory processes, and translates these findings into innovative therapies that improve the clinical outcome of cancer patients. The MORA Program's aims are to: 1) Identify novel molecular mechanisms involved in cancer pathogenesis; 2) Advance molecular prognostic/predictive approaches to facilitate precision therapy; and 3) Develop innovative molecularly targeted approaches. MORA synergizes transdisciplinary efforts to develop trials targeting key DNA repair and gene regulatory functions as well as novel molecular targeting approaches, particularly in catchment area priorities such as breast, lung, and prostate cancers. MORA members engage with and learn from the local community through outreach and retreats involving patient advocates and community leaders, as well as regular, bi-directional interaction with the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) Community Advisory Board. MORA continuously supports the education and training mission through direct mentorship at all career levels, NCI fellowships, T32 awards, and diversity-enhancing training programs. The MORA Program is led by Daniel Silver, MD, PhD, and Russell Schilder, MD, who provide complementary expertise. Silver practices in breast cancer, cancer genetics, and prevention, and is also a basic and translational laboratory researcher who works on BRCA1/2, triple negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and identifying new genes involved in tumorigenesis. Schilder is a clinical trialist who currently heads the SKCC’s robust Phase 1 Program and has national leadership roles in cancer clinical research organizations. To capture the research strengths across the consortium, the Program assembles 46 members from 12 departments across Thomas Jefferson University and Drexel University. Members have successfully published and obtained grant support. Total cancer relevant funding is $11.6 M with $1.6 M from NCI and a further $4.1 M from other NIH institutes and DOD. MORA has published 790 cancer-relevant research articles of which 21.1% are intra-programmatic, 29.2% are inter-programmatic, and 51.5% are collaborative with other NCI-designated Centers. Discoveries have been published in high-impact journals including Cancer Discov, Cell, Mol Cell, and J Clin Oncol. Future goals of MORA are consonant with the SKCC strategic plan: 1) Developing new programmatic grants and fostering additional grants in catchment-relevant cancers with a focus on NCI funding; 2) Deepening the focus on molecular mechanisms of treatment and resistance in catchment-relevant diseases, in particular lung, pancreas, and breast cancers, while retaining expertise in prostate cancer and reinforcing the translation of novel concepts into clinical trials; 3) Recruiting clinical ...