Driving Research Discovery
New discoveries start with competitive funding and dedicated scientists. Our 2022 strategic plan tracks research funding (called “sponsored research funding” in our strategic plan) as proof that our work stands up to national scrutiny. This year, MCC researchers brought in $84.7 million in direct costs, up about 7 percent from $79 million the year before. That funding supports 495 active research projects across 12 shared resources, where over 600 scientists share technology and expertise. Last year, those scientists published 573 papers in peer-reviewed journals. This grant money is crucial, because it pays for the experiments, equipment, and teamwork that lead to the breakthroughs patients need.
That drives breakthroughs like the new artificial intelligence biomarker tool that our researchers developed to analyze the shapes and patterns of cells on standard pathology slides—the same type of slides doctors already use to diagnose cancer. Using these same pathology slides means no new tests, no new special equipment, and no added burden on patients. This biomarker tool can identify ovarian cancer subtypes and predict which therapies are most likely to work for each patient, potentially personalizing treatment from the very first day of diagnosis.
MCC’s global research footprint grew as well. Dr. Silvia Balbo, co-leader of our Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program, was named a co-investigator on the Cancer Grand Challenges “CAUSE” team, an international collaboration of six institutions receiving up to $25 million over five years to study the unique "fingerprints" of DNA damage left behind by environmental and lifestyle exposures, from tobacco smoke to sunlight. By learning to read these fingerprints, the team hopes to unlock new strategies for cancer prevention, earlier detection, and personalized treatment.
Our scientists also zeroed in on cancer’s origins at the microscopic level. In research conducted with the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, MCC scientists took a closer look at a virus linked to blood cancers, work that is helping scientists better understand how certain infections may contribute to cancer development, and opening potential new pathways for prevention and treatment. Together, these discoveries span the full journey from causes to cures, reminding us that every insight, however small, moves us closer to more answers for patients.