Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for Dana-Farber patients & families Learn more
Please note that some translations using Google Translate may not be accurately represented and downloaded documents cannot be translated. Dana-Farber assumes no liability for inaccuracies that may result from using this third-party tool, which is for website translation and not clinical interactions. You may request a live medical interpreter for a discussion about your care.
The Department of Cancer Biology performs lab-based research investigating the molecular pathways driving cancer. We use discoveries about the basic functioning of these pathways to develop novel cancer diagnostics and precision treatments.
A major challenge for cancer therapy is the generation of medicines that kill cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. The promise of precision medicine lies in the ability to target the molecular pathways specific to individual cancer types.
Under the leadership of Department Chair Thomas Roberts, PhD, our 25 independent faculty and more than 300 laboratory personnel combine structural, chemical, genetic, computational, and biochemical approaches to identify molecular vulnerabilities unique to cancer cells, and to generate novel compounds with therapeutic potential.
Our team has contributed directly and indirectly to a new generation of smart drugs such as imatinib (Gleevec) and gefitinib (Iressa) — bringing the promise of precision medicine closer to reality.
To learn more about the many ways you can support Dana-Farber's research initiatives with a philanthropic gift, please contact Rebecca Shortle at 617-632-4215 or rebecca_shortle@dfci.harvard.edu.
View publications by members of the Department of Cancer Biology.
