Center for Cancer Biology Research

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Developing new ways to fight cancer

Each year, 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer causes 600,000 deaths annually in the U.S.

It affects many people, and Sanford Research is doing its part to fight it. We are advancing cancer research by:

  • Identifying molecular and cellular mechanisms that cause cancer
  • Working to understand the role of the immune system in fighting cancer
  • Developing new approaches to treat cancer

Our areas of expertise include breast cancer, head and neck cancer, leukemia, osteosarcoma, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Our research group supports:

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About our COBRE research

COBRE grants, funded by the NIH’s National Institute of General Medicine Sciences, foster collaborative and supportive environments for innovative cancer research laboratories. Researchers here work toward reducing the immense burden of cancer across the upper Midwest by translating basic discoveries into clinical trials for human cancer patients.

Principal investigator: Keith Miskimins, PhD
Program coordinator: Paola Vermeer, PhD

What we research

We focus our research on uncovering the basic mechanisms underlying the development of cancer, understanding the importance of the immune system and, in turn, developing novel approaches to treat cancer. The center has strengths and expertise in:

  • Pediatric brain tumors
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Leukemia
  • Head and neck cancers
  • Breast cancer

Our robust oncology clinical trial program includes immunotherapy trials that harness the power of the immune system to destroy tumors. It also includes physician-initiated trials.

Our research cores

Our center supports and mentors junior investigators (project leaders) researching the importance of the immune system in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and childhood cancers. The leadership team provides project leaders with an individualized mentorship plan to enhance their professional skills and further their research goals to become successful, independent investigators.

The center also supports two interdisciplinary cores:

  1. Flow Cytometry Core
  2. Histology and Imaging Core

These cores provide center affiliates and regional scientists with key expertise and access to the latest technologies.

Research publications

Browse the published research under our COBRE grant to learn more about the Center for Cancer Biology Research.

View publications