# Cancer Biology

> **NIH NIH P30** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $33,318

## Abstract

CANCER BIOLOGY PROGRAM
Lisa M. Coussens, PhD, and Melissa Wong, PhD, Program Co-Leaders
ABSTRACT
Cancer Biology (CB) Program members explore genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cancer
initiation, progression, and response and resistance to therapy, providing platforms to translate basic science
discoveries to clinical care. The program strives to gain insights into therapeutically-targetable pathways in
neoplastic and host-derived cells within complex tumor microenvironments that drive malignancy. The program
supports the overarching goal of the Knight Cancer Institute to understand the molecular and cellular basis of
cancer and to translate these findings into precision clinical care. To accomplish these goals, the program is
organized into three research themes: signal transduction (focused on cellular signaling mechanism relevant to
homeostatic and neoplastic cell proliferation), carcinogenesis/genetic instability (examining cell intrinsic and
extrinsic mechanisms that predispose to cancer, including regulation of cell-cycle checkpoint control, DNA
damage and repair, and genetic and epigenetic alterations), and the tumor microenvironment (investigating
mesenchymal support, immune, and vascular cell interactions with neoplastic cells). Program co-leader Melissa
Wong, Ph.D., is an expert in stem cell biology, particularly in colorectal, breast and pancreas cancers. Co-leader
Lisa M. Coussens, Ph.D., is an expert in the biology of microenvironmental regulation of solid tumorigenesis,
with emphasis on cutaneous squamous, breast and pancreatic cancer. The 26 members are drawn from five
basic science departments, three clinical departments or divisions in the OHSU School of Medicine, and four
institutes affiliated with OHSU. Annual direct-cost funding as of January 2016 amounted to $14,666,464 (total
cost), of which $6,250,223 (total cost) was from the NCI and $11,592,453 (total cost) was peer-reviewed. The
discoveries made in this program have resulted in 202 publications, of which 12% are intra-programmatic
collaborations and 28% are inter-programmatic collaborations, and 56% are inter-institutional.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9968119
- **Project number:** 5P30CA069533-22
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** LISA M COUSSENS
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $33,318
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9968119

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9968119, Cancer Biology (5P30CA069533-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9968119. Licensed CC0.

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