Theme 1: Impact of Tumor-Host Interactions on Cancer Initiation & Progression

Theme 2: Cancer Interventions: Harnessing Host & Tumor Characteristics

Theme 3: Mitigating the Impact of Cancer and Treatment on Host Physiology

Improving our understanding of the mechanisms contributing to tumorigenesis, especially in the context of the host environment, is critical to promoting the development of new and effective targeted therapies. The work from a cohort of investigators within CHI aims to elucidate how cancer progression is altered by the host environment and what useful biomarkers can be identified for these processes. This knowledge can then be leveraged for improving therapeutic strategies. 

Research focused on developing novel interventional strategies that leverage host and tumor characteristics particularly within their microenvironments is another major area of effort within CHI and complement the fundamental work on tumor-immune system interactions.

Cancer and its therapies cause side effects associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and a number of CHI investigators are evaluating specific ways to mitigate these effects.