The deadliest aspect of cancer is its ability to metastasize, or migrate from one part of the body to another, where cancerous cells use a new substrate to ultimately grow into detectable and deadly tumors. While current cancer research efforts have expanded exponentially in recent years, the focus of these efforts has been on primary cancers. Metastasis as a distinct physiological process with its own dynamics has remained largely unexplored and thus poorly understood.

To help address this, the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research has created a new Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research at the University of Chicago. Initial funding for the Ludwig Center will come from the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Fund and consists of $6 million over 3 years, followed by an additional $12 to 14 million over a subsequent 7 years.

Co-Directing the new center are Geoffrey Greene, Ph.D., Virginia and D. K. Ludwig Professor, Ben May Institute for Cancer Research, and Ralph Weichselbaum, M.D., Daniel K. Ludwig Professor and Chairman, Department of Radiation & Cellular Oncology. The Metastasis Center will be organically linked to the reorganized and revitalized University of Chicago Cancer Research Center, which is directed by Michelle Le Beau, Ph.D.

The Ludwig Center will ultimately be housed in the new Gwen and Jules Knapp Center for Biomedical Discovery upon its completion in early 2008. Funding from the Ludwig Trust will enable leaders at Chicago to eventually recruit a new Director and additional faculty. The first junior faculty member has already been recruited to the Division using Ludwig funds. Andy Minn, M.D., Ph.D., was recruited from Memorial Sloan-Kettering, where he recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Joan Massagué's laboratory. Dr. Minn earned his degrees through the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and did his graduate thesis work in Craig Thompson's laboratory through the Committee on Immunology. Ludwig funds will also be used to support pilot funding in metastasis research and core technology.

Institute for Genomics & Systems Biology
Kevin White, Ph.D., will join the Division on July 1, 2006, as Professor in the Departments of Human Genetics and Ecology & Evolution, Director of the new Institute for Genomics & Systems Biology, and Scientist at the Argonne National Laboratory...

Ludwig Center for Metastis Research
The deadliest aspect of cancer is its ability to metastasize, or migrate from one part of the body to another, where cancerous cells use a new substrate to ultimately grow into detectable and deadly tumors. While current cancer research efforts...

Olopade Receives Macarthur Award
The Division of the BIological Sciences held a reception to honor Olufunmilayo (Funmi) Olopade, M.D., Professor in the Department of Medicine and Human Genetics, for her selection as a recipient of a coveted John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant."

CALGB Celebrates 50th Anniversary
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), a national clinical trials cooperative group sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and headquartered, since 1995, at the University of Chicago...

Novel Graduate Program Bridges Biological and Physical Sciences
As one who experiences life on both sides of the divide, Tobin Sosnick, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, understands how valuable cross-disciplinary interactions between the biological and physical sciences can be...

SPOTLIGHT ON: Faculty of Ambulatory Operations
One of the major goals for the Practice Plan in 2006 is successful implementation of the Clinical Operations Task Force's recommendations from last year. These task forces had very specific charges around improvements in patient wait time in outpatient clinics...

Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators
The University of Chicago has long been known as "the teacher of teachers." Our faculty members serve as sources of continual inspiration for medical students to seek careers as educators and academicians...

Perseus Survey Solutions
The Division of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce a new service, PerseusSurveySolutions. Perseus SurveySolutions is a Web-based application that allows individuals to create, deploy, and analyze web surveys...

DEVELOPMENT
Recent Awards and Grants Information for Biological Sciences Division Faculty

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Recent Awards and Grants Information for Biological Sciences Division Faculty

ACCOLADES
Recent Awards and Grants Information for Biological Sciences Division Faculty

More News & Events