Cancer Center Support Grant

This is the fifth competing renewal of the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). VICC is a matrix center within Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University that integrates the cancer-related expertise and resources of the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Arts and Sciences and Engineering, the Peabody School of Education and the fully integrated Veterans Administration Medical Center. The major clinical facilities and the majority of research facilities are located on one campus, which promotes informal interactions, sharing of resources and productive collaborations. Established in 1993, VICC functions as an organizational unit with a supra-departmental status. VICC-specific responsibilities and aims are 1) to conduct, support and enhance state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary basic, clinical and population-based research; 2) to coordinate and integrate cancer-related activities across Vanderbilt and to collaborate with our local, regional, national and global partners; 3) to train and develop the next generation of cancer investigators, cancer leaders and the continuum of cancer care providers; and 4) to assess and prioritize community needs and to leverage partnerships to address those needs through cancer research, care and control activities. The research, training, and community outreach and engagement objectives are accomplished through CCSG and institutionally supported organizational capabilities, planning and evaluation, and eight research programs. The VICC Research Programs are Signal Transduction and Cell Proliferation, Genome Maintenance, Host-Tumor Interactions, Gastrointestinal Cancer, Translational Research and Interventional Oncology, Breast Cancer, Cancer Epidemiology, and Cancer Health Outcomes and Control (new). Eleven shared resources are proposed, all previously supported. Remarkable VICC growth and scientific discovery over the past project period has led to 22 new multi-investigator grants for a total of 71, and 8 new training grants for a total of 26. In addition, two NCI SPOREs were successfully renewed. With these and many other NCI grants, peer-reviewed funding increased 35%. Significant accomplishments have been made in precision oncology, cancer epidemiology, health outcomes and control, genomics, cancer drug discovery, and early detection and prevention research. Increased VICC space and facilities, along with philanthropic and institutional funds, supported the recruitment of 64 new faculty, who join a dedicated team carrying out the VICC mission: to alleviate cancer death and suffering through pioneering research; innovative patient-centered care; and evidence-based prevention, education and community initiatives. VICC senior leadership provides effective oversight and catalyzes innovative and paradigm-shifting science that translates to benefit for our patients and the community we serve in our catchment and reduces the burden of cancer nationally and globally.