Message from the Director of the Oncology Institute,
Brian J. Nickoloff, MD, PhD - Updated 10/2006

The primary mission of the scientists and physicians working together in the Oncology Institute and the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center is to “Identify the cause of cancer, and foster hope for finding a cure for patients and their families, by focusing on the biology of tumor cells and pursuing innovative and highly translational, multifaceted research pathways”.

Our approach and strategy to accomplish this mission is essentially two-fold:  first, assemble the best physician and nursing teams to work in a multi-disciplinary clinical setting to provide the best patient care for patients with cancer as possible; and second, to match the outstanding clinical programs with first-class research teams focusing on the same set of cancers.

Thus, we recognize the need for team approaches and reciprocal interactions between the clinical bedside and the research benchtop.  This emphasis on so-called translational medicine has resulted in the creation of 3 interactive research programs including: Skin Cancer, Leukemia/Lymphoma, and Breast Cancer. 

 In each program, we are interested in pursuing the cause of these types of cancer (e.g. cancer etiology) to facilitate prevention and control, as well as interrogating the essential biology of the tumor cells to learn more about the transforming steps that produce deadly results (e.g. tumor pathogenesis). 

As regards cancer etiology, we have investigators exploring the role of ultraviolet radiation because excessive sunlight is a major cause of skin cancer.  The leukemia and lymphoma researchers examine basic changes in the chromatin structure of DNA to learn more about the genetic basis for these blood-borne cancers.  In the breast cancer program, scientists are making progress in understanding the regulation of breast cancer survival and drug resistance, and designing new rationally targeted therapeutic regimens that can be tested in pre-clinical models and translated to the clinic.

The Oncology Institute is comprised of nearly 20 investigators representing research-intensive faculty members occupying 30 laboratory modules within the 3 primary research programs.  All of the current faculty members described on the following pages are supported by peer-reviewed research grants, including significant funding received from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, and the American Cancer Society. In addition, there are several Program Project (NIH PO-1) grants involving active collaborations with scientists at other universities including, University of Michigan, University of Chicago, University of Illinois-Chicago, the University of California-Davis, and University of Arizona.

Besides these research programs, investigators are pioneering rational design of novel therapeutics, including a Phase I vaccine trial with an investigator initiated IND from the FDA for melanoma patients, as well as participating in many cooperative group clinical trials that include patients seen in our specialty clinics.  There is a monthly CME approved Clinical and Translational seminar series, as well as a monthly Basic Science seminar series in which leading authorities from around the world spend a day giving a lecture and interacting with faculty and students.

Our teaching mission within the Institute includes weekly Journal clubs at lunchtime, morning specialty rounds and conferences, and regular research rotations by medical students, graduate students and MD/PhD students, as well as postdoctoral fellowship training.

The research mission is facilitated by various Cores including: Flow Cytometry, Molecular Pathology, Transgenic and Animal Cores, as well as by biostatistical and data management cores.  The past 4 years of progress have been catalyzed by our use of a NCI-Cancer Center P20 Planning Grant, and our plan is to apply for a P30 Cancer Center designation by the NCI within the next year.

In conclusion, it should be clear that we are investing our time and energy in building the strongest teams and links as possible between the clinic and the research laboratory.  Many tangible examples now exist to support and encourage us in our quest to become a leading Oncology Institute and Cancer Center in the country.   While we have been able to provide a high impact on the delivery of cancer-related health care in the greater Chicago community, the next step in our journey involves expanding our sphere of influence far beyond the Illinois borders.  We have been able to increase our extramural funding levels, recruit and retain top scientists and clinicians devoted to cancer research and treatment, and even witnessed our first complete clinical response in our melanoma vaccine trial involving a young woman with metastatic disease. To ensure our future success, and ability to develop greater breadth within each program, we are in the planning phases of a comprehensive philanthropic campaign that will be launched in 2005 to help us expand our facilities in terms of research space, as well as seeking endowments for faculty and programmatic initiatives, and educational opportunities.

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