Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program
 Established in 1978, the Cancer Biology Program at
Stanford University includes an interdisciplinary program leading to the
Ph.D. degree. During these past 25 years, our understanding
of cancer has increased dramatically with the discovery of oncogenes,
tumor suppressor genes, pathways of DNA damage and repair, cell
cycle regulation, angiogenesis and responses to hypoxia, and recent
glimpses into the molecular basis of metastasis. In addition,
methods of parallel analysis including gene expression arrays, protein
arrays, and tissue arrays have begun to refine and redefine the taxonomy
of cancer diagnosis. This explosion of basic and clinical science
has in turn resulted in the first successful cancer chemotherapies and
immunotherapies based on a knowledge of specific molecular
targets. Stanford presents a unique environment to pursue
interdisciplinary cancer research because the School of Medicine, the
School of Humanities and Sciences, and the School of Engineering are
located on a single campus, all within walking distance of one another.
The goal of the Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program is to
provide our students with education and training that will enable them
to make significant contributions to this remarkable field.
Coursework during the first year is designed to provide a broad
understanding of the molecular, genetic, cell biological, and
pathobiological aspects of cancer. Students will also learn about
the current state of clinical diagnosis and treatment of human
cancers. Equally important during the first year is a series of
three rotations in research laboratories chosen by each student.
By the beginning of the second year, each student will have chosen
his/her research advisor and will have begun work on his/her
dissertation project. A qualifying examination must be completed
by the end of the second year. An annual Cancer Biology Conference
at Asilomar on the Pacific
Ocean provides our students with an opportunity to
present their research to one another and to the faculty. The
expected time to degree is four to five years.
Our students are not limited to a single department in
choosing their research advisor. The Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program
currently has approximately 50 graduate students located in a variety of
basic
science and clinical departments throughout the School
of Medicine and School of Humanities and Sciences. Many of our students are supported by a training grant from the National
Cancer Institute, a branch of the United States government.
Cancer Biology Postdoctoral
Program
A training program for Postdoctoral Scholars in Cancer
Biology is also supported by a grant from the National Cancer
Institute. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
and have completed their Ph.D., M.D., or D.V.M. Individuals should
apply directly to a faculty member in whose
laboratory they are interested in working.
Stanford University
Stanford
University, ranked as one of the leading research universities in the
United States, is a private university that was founded in 1885. The
University, often referred to as "The Farm", has a rural
atmosphere and is located in Palo Alto, about 35 miles south of San
Francisco. The campus offers a large amount of open space, including
wildlife preserve areas for running and hiking, extensive athletic
facilities, a renowned art museum, and many student- and
community-oriented activities. Approximately 13,000 students are enrolled
at Stanford, divided about evenly between undergraduates and students
enrolled in the graduate and professional schools.
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