The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University (NU) is an NCI-designated, comprehensive matrix cancer center conducting a broad range of multidisciplinary clinical, basic, translational and population science research. The Lurie Cancer Center (LCC) integrates the expertise and resources of the Feinberg School of Medicine (Chicago Campus) and its affiliated hospitals, along with those of departments and schools located on the University’s Evanston Campus. The LCC brings together 270 Members from 29 Departments in four Schools. Established in 1974, the LCC has been dedicated to the process of discovery, advancing medical knowledge, providing compassionate, patient-centered state-of-the-art cancer care, and conducting community outreach and survivorship programs. A major goal of the Center is to eliminate cancer disparities in its catchment area and beyond. The centers goals are accomplished through the activities of six established research programs: Cancer Epigenetics and Nuclear Dynamics, Tumor Environment and Metastasis, Cancer and Physical Sciences, Translational Research in Malignancies, Cancer Prevention, and Cancer Control and Survivorship; and amongst fourteen shared resources: Center for Advanced Microscopy, Developmental Therapeutics, Flow Cytometry, Immune Assessment, Keck Biophysics, Metabolomics, Molecular Imaging, Mouse Histology/Phenotyping, Transgenic and Targeted Mutagenesis, Outcomes Measurement, Pathology, Proteomics, Structural Biology, and Quantitative Data Sciences. Over the current Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) funding period, there has been significant growth and progress at the center. The authority of the Director has been expanded, new leaders have been recruited and programs have been reorganized to align with the new strategic plan. 124 new faculty have been recruited, including 50 clinical investigators and 74 basic or population scientists. There has been major expansion of the Center’s community outreach programs, strengthening of its clinical and translational leadership and infrastructure, enhanced cancer focus, and development of innovative approaches to translate the science of LCC investigators to the clinic and the community. Two new translational initiatives in Engineering and Chemistry have emerged and the Center’s leaders played key roles in the establishment of the Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub in Chicago. Cancer relevant peer review funding has increased by over $23 million (22%) since the last competing CCSG renewal submission, from $108,046,635 in 2017 to $131,304,912 currently. There have been successful competing renewals of two SPORE grants (Brain and Prostate Cancer) and several new P01 and U54 grants. By leveraging new institutional commitment and support, along with significant philanthropic resources, the LCC will continue to develop innovative approaches to reduce the cancer burden in its catchment area and beyond.