CCR's Culture
Success after 20 years! CCR investigators Doug Lowy, M.D. (left), and John Schiller, Ph.D. (right), translated 20 years of research on papilloma viral particles into technology needed for production of a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.
Tackle High-Risk, High-Impact Research
CCR scientists are encouraged to pursue high-risk research that will have a major impact but may require long-term, sustained support or may be too high-risk for industry or academia to undertake. At present, we are pursuing several high-risk, high-impact research areas that have great potential for accelerating our progress in cancer research:
- Investigating how to capture, share, and use genomics data in diagnosis and prognosis
- Designing and testing new multimodality therapies
- Developing new approaches in immunotherapy and vaccines
- Investigating the use of microRNAs to manipulate cancer gene expression
- Demonstrating the spatial relocation of chromosomes in cancer
Move Seamlessly from Lab to Clinic and Back
Establish Collaborative Networks
Small numbers of patients make large contribution
CCR's Clinical Program at the NIH Clinical Center is low-volume and patient-centered. Intensive translational studies of specific cancers and diseases assures each patient of careful, customized, cutting-edge care, while permitting research clinicians to move their clinical observations quickly back to the laboratory for refinement. The comprehensive data collected from clinical trials are shared with the oncology community.
CCR's Collaborative Networks
CCR's research program promotes a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. Its infrastructure gives CCR the flexibility to leverage strengths of experts from diverse fields. It enables CCR to complement and interface with the activities of the extramural cancer research community, including academia and industry.
- CCR culture supports both investigator-initiated research and team science
- Effective collaborative networks support progress
- Connect with labs, branches, and NCI leadership
- Hold small-group principal investigator meetings through Centers of Excellence, Faculties, and Working Groups
- Lead or join international trials and collaborations
- Broad extramural collaborations accelerate progress
Empowering Technologies Support High-Impact Research
CCR researchers have access to many core services that can help accelerate their research progress and productivity. In addition, innovative technologies developed at CCR are available to them.
- Molecular Profiling
- Genomics
- Metabolomics
- Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM)
- Angiogenesis Program
- Imaging and Microscopy
- Nanotechnology
- Gene Silencing
- Advanced Biomedical Technology
- Animal Models Development
- Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, and Computing
- Molecular Targets Development Program
- Biospecimen Procurement and Processing
Treat Rare Cancers and Diseases
CCR studies rare cancers and diseases that are poorly understood and may not be considered commerically viable for development by Pharma. One example is Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). Ally suffers from this rare disease, which causes his eyes and skin to be easily damaged by the sun. His caretaker puts salve on his hand, so he can apply it to his lips. CCR research on this disease indentified abnormalities in DNA repair genes that have relevance to cancer. Photo credit: Bangor Daily News: Photo by Denise Farwell.
Some Rare Diseases Treated at CCR
- Xeroderma pigmentosum
- Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
- AIDS-related primary central nervous system lymphoma
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
- Mesothelioma
- Thymic carcinoma
- Malignant gliomas
- Neurofibromatosis
- Pancreatic carcinoma
Establish Partnerships
- Industry
- Pharma
- Biotechnology
- Universities
- CCR/NIH scientists
- Other Federal agencies
- Consortia
By serving as a conduit between collaborators, CCR scientific teams translate new discoveries and inventions into effective therapies, approaches, and technologies for detecting, diagnosing, and treating cancer and AIDS patients.
