OVERALL: ABSTRACT The University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) is a matrix consortium cancer center that includes: The University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), the University of Kansas in Lawrence (KU-L) and via consortium agreement, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research (Stowers) and Children’s Mercy (CM) Kansas City. In 2020, 171 members of KUCC accounted for $9.7M of NCI funding and a total of $57M in overall cancer-related funding, an increase of $8M since the last CCSG submission. Supported by an experienced, nationally recognized leadership team, Roy A. Jensen, MD, has led KUCC on a strong upward trajectory that has been catalyzed by over $467M philanthropic support since 2004. Over the last four years, substantial progress has been made broadening partnerships with communities throughout the KUCC catchment area, recruiting highly innovative physician-scientists, and expanding clinical research and early phase clinical trials. We have also been advancing education for the next generation of scientists and healthcare providers and heightening the influence of KUCC researchers in the national scientific community. KUCC has established five aims to ensure KUCC leads in the fight against cancer: 1. Leverage unique regional assets to transform research discoveries from the laboratory and the clinic to drive new anticancer therapeutic development. 2. Provide the optimal environment to focus the power of precision medicine, basic science inquiry, drug discovery and development, and behavioral interventions to decrease cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality. 3. Lead and implement a comprehensive strategy to educate both the current and next generation of cancer researchers and clinicians in cancer research, treatment, prevention, and control. 4. Partner with key stakeholders, community advocates and regional leaders to develop, promote, and foster research-based cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, control, and survivorship strategies to enhance our national impact, improve cancer outcomes and ensure health equity. 5. Advance team science by fostering innovative partnerships and collaborations. To accomplish these aims KUCC has three research programs: 1) Cancer Biology, 2) Cancer Prevention and Control, and 3) Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics. In addition, KUCC supports the Clinical Trials Office, seven established shared resources – Biospecimen, Biostatistics and Informatics, Clinical Pharmacology, Flow Cytometry, Lead Development and Optimization, Nutrition, and Transgenic and Gene- Targeting – and one developing shared resource – Microscopy & Analytical Imaging.