The long-term goal of the Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics (CGE) Program is to pursue basic research onfundamental cellular processes relevant to cancer biology and to seek opportunities for translating theresulting information into clinical use. To this end, the following Specific Goals will be pursued: 1. Identify themolecular processes by which genomic instability is generated and contributes to oncogenesis; 2. Explorehow epigenetic modifications of DMA and chromatin influence tumor initiation and progression; and3. Elucidate the mechanisms underlying control of cell division and ascertain how these mechanisms areabrogated in cancer.The CGE Program is one of the two Basic Science Programs of the HICCC. In replacing the formerDevelopmental Biology & Genetics Program it has been restructured to increase cancer relevance, and theheightened cancer focus of the new CGE Program is reflected by a 400% increase in NCI funding. TheProgram pursues its scientific goals by promoting interactions among CGE investigators and with otherHICCC members, encouraging collaborative research projects and joint grant proposals, and providing aforum in which CGE investigators share their latest discoveries and consider the clinical value of their basicresearch findings. Potential clinical applications include identification and analysis of environmental toxins,modified therapeutic regimens to accommodate 'radiation bystander' effects, development of biodosimetry,use of nanofluidic cassettes ('biochips') in diagnostic/predictive laboratory assays (including monitoringtherapeutic responses), high-throughput screening to identify small molecules that modulate malignantprocesses, and pre-clinical testing of these molecules for therapeutic effects.The CGE Program consists of 32 members (all full members of the HICCC) from eleven departments atColumbia University. The Program is supported by several collaborative efforts, including a recentlyrenewed, five-year $5.2M (direct costs) program project grant from the NCI entitled 'Radiation BystanderEffects: Mechanisms' (P.I., Tom Hei). For the last budget year of the grant (July 1, 2006 - June.30, 2007),the CGE Program received a total of $17.12M (direct costs) in cancer-relevant grant support, including$3.69M (direct costs) in NCI funding, $12.95M (direct costs) in other cancer-related peer-reviewed funding,and $0.48M (direct costs) in cancer-related non-peer-reviewed funding. The total number of cancer-relatedpublications by the current Program members since the previous submission (i.e., 2003-present) was 330,with 17.0% inter-programmatic and 12.4% intra-programmatic publications.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 331 publications
