Cancer

Overview

Salk Institute for Biological Studies - Cancer - Overview

Overview


We are uncovering the molecular drivers of cancer and leading the search for the next generation of targeted therapies for different types of cancer. We see a future where transformational treatments destroy tumors before they develop drug resistance.

The Salk Cancer Center is a basic research National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center.

Research


Brain Cancer

Brain cancer occurs when a mass of abnormal cells grows in the brain, which can impair a person’s ability to think, communicate, and move. Brain cancer kills roughly 18,000 Americans annually, and the five-year survival rate is around 30 percent. At Salk, we are searching for new cellular targets to treat brain cancer and identifying ways to prevent recurrence. We have developed innovative methods for studying brain cancer that will hopefully drive the development of new therapeutics.

Tony Hunter, PhD

American Cancer Society Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Susan Kaech, PhD

Professor and Director

NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Christian Metallo, PhD

Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Satchidananda Panda, PhD

Professor

Regulatory Biology Laboratory

Ye Zheng, PhD

Professor

NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer occurs when breast cells grow out of control. These cells then often spread to other parts of the body in a process called metastasis. At Salk, we are charting genetic missteps that can lead breast cells to become cancerous. We are also identifying weaknesses in various types of breast cancer, leading to new molecular targets for therapies.

Diana Hargreaves, PhD

Associate Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Daniel Hollern, PhD

Assistant Professor

NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Tony Hunter, PhD

American Cancer Society Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Pallav Kosuri, PhD

Assistant Professor

Integrative Biology Laboratory

Alan Saghatelian, PhD

Professor

Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology

Gerald Shadel, PhD

Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Reuben Shaw, PhD

Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Geoffrey Wahl, PhD

Professor Emeritus

Colorectal Cancer

Nearly two million people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer globally each year—and for half, the disease is fatal. Despite being the third most common cancer and second deadliest cancer, colorectal cancer can be hard to diagnose since early symptoms are often not obvious. Colorectal cancer starts growing inside either the colon or the rectum, beginning as little growths called polyps that have cancerous potential. At Salk, we work to understand how diet and environment contribute to colorectal cancer, as well as how we can optimize drug regimens to improve patient outcomes.

Dannielle Engle, PhD

Assistant Professor

Regulatory Biology Laboratory

Ronald Evans, PhD

Professor and Director

Gene Expression Laboratory

Christian Metallo, PhD

Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer, which affects nonsmokers as well as smokers, is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. At Salk, we study the genetic programming that causes lung cancer, searching for ways to diagnose lung cancer earlier and kill tumors more effectively. We have developed unique research models to study lung cancer in the laboratory, which have led to important discoveries, including a method for countering a common genetic mutation that often leads to drug-resistant cancers.

Susan Kaech, PhD

Professor and Director

NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Christian Metallo, PhD

Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Marc Montminy, MD, PhD

Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Alan Saghatelian, PhD

Professor

Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology

Reuben Shaw, PhD

Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Christina Towers, PhD

Assistant Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. It is notoriously resistant to therapy, partly because the tumors grow encased in a thick layer of protective tissue. At Salk, we are working on methods to penetrate the barrier of cells shielding pancreatic tumors. With this and other lines of research, we are making this seemingly impenetrable cancer much more susceptible to therapeutic drugs.

Sreekanth Chalasani, PhD

Professor

Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory

Dannielle Engle, PhD

Assistant Professor

Regulatory Biology Laboratory

Ronald Evans, PhD

Professor and Director

Gene Expression Laboratory

Tony Hunter, PhD

American Cancer Society Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Christian Metallo, PhD

Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Reuben Shaw, PhD

Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Christina Towers, PhD

Assistant Professor

Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory

Geoffrey Wahl, PhD

Professor Emeritus


Salk Cancer Center