Center for Cancer Research Overview

Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities Workshop

Glenn Merlino, Ph.D.

Acting Scientific Director for Basic Research

May 2016

CCR is part of the Intramural Research Program (IRP) of NIH

EXTRAMURAL

Grants Programs Centers

INTRA MURAL

VISION Integrate basic, translational, and clinical

research to make cancer preventable, curable, or chronically manageable

Discovery-driven Basic Research

Clinical Trials & Patient Care

Translational Research  

Clinical Research  

225 PIs ~ $400M budget

Bethesda & Frederick

24 Basic

Science Laboratories

19 Clinical

Research Branches

3 Goal/Theme-

Oriented Programs

The CCR in numbers

190 postbaccalaureate/ predoctoral students 767 postdoctoral/ clinical fellows

335 summer students

226 staff scientists/staff clinicians 430 technical lab staff

A network of Labs/Branches •  46 Labs/Branches/Programs

•  NIH Interest Groups - More than 80

•  Centers of Excellence •  Chromosome Biology •  Immunology •  Genomics •  Genitourinary Malignancies •  HIV

•  Initiatives

•  Rare Tumors •  Advanced Preclinical Research •  Comparative Oncology •  Microbiome

The NCI CCR is a distinctive research environment

§  Bottom-up environment: Projects are investigator-driven

§  High-risk, high-impact research and technology development is encouraged

§  Secure resources

§  Highly interactive, interdisciplinary culture amongst basic and clinical scientists

§  Efficient bench-to-bedside-to-bench translation through access to the world’s largest clinical research hospital

§  Emphasis on underdeveloped research topics, emerging areas, rare cancers and underserved patient populations

What kind of research do we do?

Basic 49%

Clinical Translational

51%

§  Full spectrum from basic to clinical

§  High-risk, high-reward

§  Long time horizon

§  Creative, innovative, transformational, unique

§  Work that might not be possible in the extramural environment due to limitations in funding, infrastructure, patient populations

Interdisciplinary Strengths of CCR’s Research Portfolio

33%

14%

11%

11%

11%

8%

7% 5%

Cancer Biology

Immunology

Chromosome Biology/Epigenetics

Chemistry/Structural Biology/Biophysics

Cell and Developmental Biology

HIV/ Cancer Virology

Molecular Biology/Biochemistry/Microbiology

Genetics and Genomics

The NCI Intramural Clinical Research Program §  The NIH is home to the largest clinical research center in the world

§  The NCI is one of its major users

§  The NIH clinical center is not a regular hospital §  It is dedicated to patient-intensive clinical research and to develop new

approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer

§  The NCI intramural clinical program is a resource for both basic and clinical scientists

§  Translate basic discoveries to the point of first-in-human use

Examples of groundbreaking CCR research

§  Human Papilloma Virus

§  Gene therapy

§  Immunotherapy

§  Imaging methods (basic and clinical)

§  Chromatin biology

CCR Training

Training programs exist for: High School students

College students

Post Baccalaureate students

Veterinary School students

Medical and Dental School students

Post Doctoral Training -- Ph.D. / D.V.M.

Post Doctoral Training -- M.D.

Clinical Fellowship Program

Professor, Scientist, Clinician, Tech, Admin, etc.

Student

Undergrad

Graduate

Postdoc

Junior PI

CCR offers training to young scientists at several levels of education:

•  State-of-the-art laboratory facilities, technology, and equipment

•  Scientific and professional skills workshops and training

•  Lectures and courses by eminent scientists

•  Mentoring in a collaborative, team-focused environment

•  Competitive stipends, paid leave, and medical insurance

Why Train at the NIH?

CCR Cores

Animal Resources

Imaging and

Microscopy

Nanotechnology

Clinical Research Support

Bioinformatics/ Computing

Flow Cytometry

Metabolomics

Drug Discovery

Chemistry/ Structural Biology

Cell Banking

and Aliquoting

Pharmacology

Genetics/ Genomics

Specialty CCR Programs

•  Johns Hopkins University partnership in Drug Discovery Technologies •  Associate Clinical Investigator Development Program •  NCI/FDA Interagency Oncology Task Force (IOTF) Research and Regulatory Review

Fellowship •  Summer Cancer Research Interns (CRI) Program for students from underrepresented

groups or disadvantaged backgrounds •  Comparative Molecular Pathology Research Training Program •  Sallie Rosen Kaplan fellowship program to retain women in independent science careers •  Center for Cancer Training, Intramural Workforce Diversity Branch to increase scientific

workforce diversity

https://ccr.cancer.gov/training

Comparative Biomedical Scientists Training Program Trainees

Michigan(State(University(NCI(

Laboratory(of(Cancer(Biology((and(Gene:cs(

Metasta&c(Prostate((Cancer(

Ian&Moore,&D.V.M.( Anne&Sally&Davis,&D.V.M.(Heather&Tillman,&D.V.M.&Diplomate,&ACVP( Leah&Zadrozny,&D.V.M.(

Michigan(State(University(NIAID(

Laboratory(of(Infec:ous(Diseases(

Pandemic(Influenza(A(

NC(State(University(NIAID(

Laboratory(of(Infec:ous(Diseases(

Pandemic(Influenza(A(

NC(State(University(NHLBI(

Laboratory(of(Cardiac(Energe:cs(

Coronary(Atherosclerosis(

!

Sarah&Cramer,&D.V.M.&Diplomate,&ACVP(

Helen&Michael,&D.V.M.&Diplomate,&ACVP(

University(of(Maryland(NCI(

((((Laboratory(of(Cancer(Biology(and(Gene:cs(Melanoma(

University(of(Maryland(NCI(

Laboratory(of(Experimental(Immunology(

Effects(of(Microbiome(On(Cancer(

Purdue(University(NIAID(

Laboratory(of(Virology(Highly(Pathogenic(

Viruses(

Current Trainees - 2014

Michigan(State(University(NCI&

Pathology(Training/(Graduate(Studies(

Caroline&Andrews,&D.V.M.&Laura&Baseler,&D.V.M.&Diplomate,&ACVP(

Tiffany&Lyle,&D.V.M.&Diplomate,&ACVP(Purdue(University(

NCI(Laboratory(of(Molecular(

Pharmacology(Breast(Cancer((

Metastases(in(Brain(

Kara&Corps,&D.V.M.(NC(State(University(NINDS(

Neuroimmunology(Branch(Trauma&c(Brain(Injury(

Amy&McCalla,&D.V.M.(NC(State(University(

NCI(Pediatric(Oncology(Branch(Ewing’s(Sarcoma(((

Michigan(State(University(NCI&

Pathology(Training/(Graduate(Studies(

Jessica&Beck,&D.V.M.&Joy&Gary,&D.V.M.&Diplomate,&ACVP(

Michigan(State(University(NCI(

Laboratory(of(Cancer(Biology((and(Gene:cs(

Plasma(Cell(Tumors(

University(of(Maryland(NINDS&

Pathology(Training/(Graduate(Studies(

Ryan&Traslavina,&D.V.M.&Diplomate,&ACVP&

Trainees are graduate D.V.M. veterinarians aiming for a Ph.D. & specialty board certification!

Current and Former Trainees

Distinctive Alumni

CCR  is  consistently  rated  among  the    top  ins4tu4ons  in  which  to  train*  

*The  Scien4st:  Best  Places  for  Postdocs  Harold  Varmus  Former  Director  NIH,  NCI  

Kenneth  Olden  Former  Director  NIEHS  

•  10  National  Academy  Members  •  11  Institute  of  Medicine  Members  •  11  Academy  of  Arts  &  Sciences  Members  

How to start your career with us

https://ccr.cancer.gov/careers

@NCIResearchCtr

ccr.cancer.gov

www.cancer.gov