Program Description

Cancer is one of the major health problems in our nation. In order to understand the complex processes involved in the pathogenesis, course, and treatment of this group of diseases, we need investigators whose primary focus is cancer research. We have an obligation to train investigators who understand cancer biology, pathology, and clinical ramifications.  The graduate program in cancer biology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine is designed specifically to train a new generation of scientists whose focus is on the translation of basic science into the clinic in the areas of screening, risk assessment, prevention, and therapeutics.  This program is part of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences at Wake Forest University.  For Information on application and an online application form please go to https://ewake.wfubmc.edu/secondaryapp/grad/application.aspx

The cancer biologist is perhaps unique among basic scientists in that he or she must understand the epidemiologic and clinical issues of human cancer in addition to basic science in order to formulate appropriate models and questions applicable to human cancer. The Cancer Biology Department emphasizes the melding of basic and clinical science. It is firmly committed to research that leads to new ideas which can be translated to the clinic or patient bedside concerning cancer identification and screening, risk assessment and prevention, and/or therapeutic interventions. Students will be required to formulate their research questions in these terms.

The primary coursework emphasis will be to give students the multidisciplinary scientific background and familiarity with clinical issues related to human cancer necessary to become contributing career cancer biologists. The research interests of the program will be the research interests of the department faculty. There is a broad range of research activities in the department which falls into the three subdisciplines of cancer research, mechanisms of carcinogenesis, signal transduction and regulation of cell growth, and translational research on novel therapeutic interventions. All three of these subdisciplines are high priority research topics nation-wide and will continue to be so as long as the cancer problem remains. Therefore, graduates of the proposed program shall have a solid research base with which to build cancer biology careers.

If you would like to submit a preapplication to the Cancer Biology Department follow this link to the preapplication form.