ABSTRACT: TRANSLATIONAL AND CELLULAR ONCOLOGY PROGRAM (TaCO) The Translational and Cellular Oncology (TaCO) Program identifies novel cell signaling and metabolic mechanisms in human cancers, and translates these findings into new imaging modalities and therapeutic interventions. The TaCO Program's aims are to: 1) Discover tumor intrinsic signaling and metabolic mechanisms regulating cell growth and survival; 2) Identify tumor-stroma interactions sustaining primary tumor growth and distant recurrences; and 3) Develop novel imaging and therapeutic interventions to improve detection and clinical outcomes, and catalyze the translation of these findings into the clinic. TaCO synergizes transdisciplinary efforts to develop trials targeting cell signaling processes and metabolic vulnerabilities as well as novel imaging approaches, particularly in catchment area priorities (breast and prostate cancers) and for cancers which Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) is a national referral center (uveal melanoma, head and neck cancer). TaCO members engage with and learn from the local community through outreach and retreats involving patient advocates and community leaders, as well as regular interaction with the SKCC Community Advisory Board. Furthermore, members continuously support the education and training mission through direct mentorship at all career levels, NCI fellowships, T32 awards, and a novel diversity-enhancing training program. The TaCO Program is led by Mauricio Reginato, PhD, and Ubaldo Martinez-Outschoorn, MD, who provide complementary expertise in signaling and metabolic alterations in tumor progression, and mechanisms of metabolic crosstalk between different cancer and non-cancer cells within a tumor, respectively. To capture the research strengths across the consortium, the Program assembles 41 members from 13 departments across Thomas Jefferson University and Drexel University. TaCO members have successfully published and obtained grant support. Total cancer-relevant funding is $12.7 M with $4.1 M from NCI and a further $6.1 M from other NIH institutes and DOD. TaCO has published 691 cancer-relevant research articles of which 25.3% are intra- programmatic, 23% are inter-programmatic, and 39.8% are collaborative with other NCI-designated Cancer Centers. Important discoveries have been published in high-impact journals including Cell, Cancer Discov, Mol Cell, Nature Commun, Cancer Res and Clin Cancer Res. The TaCO Program’s future directions are aligned to the SKCC strategic plan, IMPACT PHL. Future goals are to: 1) Expand thematic areas of 'Metabolism, Mitochondria and Imaging' and 'Signaling and Metastasis', 2) Foster translational clinical trials; and 3) Enhance faculty mentoring and education initiatives.