Best PhD programs in Cancer Biology

[huxley]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could offer their opinion on the best PhD programs for cancer biology?

-H

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[Gfunk6]

In general, I think most will agree that MD Anderson in Texas and Memorial-Sloan-Kettering in New York are the preimere academic cancer centers in the country. Check out this USNews Best Hospitals for Cancer list for a good starting point:

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/hosptl/rankings/specihqcanc.htm

 

[Habari]

though it's not my area of interest, sloan-kettering has an amazing area of cell biologists working on cancer biology, with a horde of new recruits coming in to fill the new research tower. there are also some very interesting collaborations between rockefeller and sloan (i don't know cornell research as well).

 

[SaltySqueegee]

You might want to first look into "Excellent" Molecular Biology programs that feature a focus in Cancer Biology. Or that has good ties with an Oncology department.

Just a thought.

Cancer Biology seems to be a bit of a 'buzz' word. At least in my opinion. 👍

 

[SaltySqueegee]

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could offer their opinion on the best PhD programs for cancer biology?

-H

Also, on the same note. Why would you want to get a PhD in Cancer Biology, when Cancer might be cured in the next few years? Then what will your PhD be worth? 😀 😉

 

[JD428]

A few programs that I was impressed with during interviews, and which haven't already been mentioned, were UMichigan, UChicago, and Vanderbilt.

 

[ninebillion]

University of Washington MSTP allows you to do your Ph.D. at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center ("Hutch"), which is the M.D. Anderson and Memorial Sloan-Kettering of the Pacific Northwest.

Good luck!

 

[Newquagmire]

University of Washington MSTP allows you to do your Ph.D. at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center ("Hutch"), which is the M.D. Anderson and Memorial Sloan-Kettering of the Pacific Northwest.

those would have been my first answers too. i've heard sloan-kettering is more on the clinical side of things though, but the rockefeller is just as good on the basic sciences.

other places i would note include harvard/mit (duh) and washu.

 

[Habari]

while sloan is perhaps best known for its clinical reputation, the basic science is pretty impressive standing alone: jim allison is going to be moving from the head of mcb at berkley to chair immuno at sloan, massague, pavleltich, goldberg, stan leibler [joint with rockefeller], david allis [w/rock], dmitor nikolov, mark ptashne, harold varmus, lee niswander, blobel jr, kathy anderson are other heavy hitters. lots of amazing young upstarts as well. they seem to be in a phase of rapid expansion - it'll be an even more impressive place in a few years.

but as other people mentioned, there are other great places to go as well [dana farber/hutch/md anderson are fantastic specialty centers - but other large schools have great molecular/cell people working on cancer related problems].

 

[Newquagmire]

varmus is there? he wrote the book i'm reading...

other good, but not "the best," programs to look at are penn and ucsf

 

[MDwillneverbe]

My vote goes with Johns Hopkins
They have cutting edge research in anything cancer related-
Can't beat them for basic science research

 

[pathdr2b]

My vote goes with Johns Hopkins
They have cutting edge research in anything cancer related-
Can't beat them for basic science research

With all due respect, Hopkins doesn't have a "Cancer Biology" track. What they do have are numerous opportunites to do research in this area through programs like Pathobiology and Cellular Medicine.

 

[pathdr2b]

Why would you want to get a PhD in Cancer Biology, when Cancer might be cured in the next few years? Then what will your PhD be worth? 😀 😉

As a current cancer researcher at NCI with a STRONG interest in a PhD in cancer biology, I can tell you that cancer is a highly complicated disease, the major mechanisms of which have yet to be discovered and/or controlled.

Listen, there are billions of dollars being made from people dying of cancer. This one fact alone almost assures that a "cure" is nowhere on the horizon.

Despite the NCI's declaration to "eliminate the suffering and death due to cancer" most people in the trenches doing the research are happy just to have discoveries that could eventually prolong the quality of life for cancer patients which is a far more realistic goal than a cure.

 

[Ursus Martimus]

In general, I think most will agree that MD Anderson in Texas and Memorial-Sloan-Kettering in New York are the preimere academic cancer centers in the country. Check out this USNews Best Hospitals for Cancer list for a good starting point:

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/hosptl/rankings/specihqcanc.htm

I actually think you would have a hard time having people agree to MD Anderson being a top PhD institution. Even Sloan Kettering may not be the best. You have to consider that although Sloan may have great output, the labs are not particularly well suited for students. The mentors are great but you will be competing with a dozen post docs for face time. Sure you will be on papers, but will you be forced to really think on your own. Although this is not always the case, it is a powerful argument to make and consider. US news considers Stanford, Harvard, and MIT to be amongst the top graduate programs in such area. I am surprised that no one has yet to mention these programs. But then again if you are going for a specific person, there are even a few great ones at smaller schools like University of Oregon.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

As a current cancer researcher at NCI with a STRONG interest in a PhD in cancer biology, I ...This one fact alone almost assures that a "cure" is nowhere on the horizon.

Hmmm... I was being somewhat facetious.

Eh. Have a good day. 👍 😀

 

[Newquagmire]

I actually think you would have a hard time having people agree to MD Anderson being a top PhD institution. Even Sloan Kettering may not be the best. You have to consider that although Sloan may have great output, the labs are not particularly well suited for students. The mentors are great but you will be competing with a dozen post docs for face time. Sure you will be on papers, but will you be forced to really think on your own. Although this is not always the case, it is a powerful argument to make and consider. US news considers Stanford, Harvard, and MIT to be amongst the top graduate programs in such area. I am surprised that no one has yet to mention these programs. But then again if you are going for a specific person, there are even a few great ones at smaller schools like University of Oregon.

The point you bring up about USNWR "Best Hospitals" vs "Best Graduate Programs" is valid (only as far as USNWR is valid itself). However, the 'face time' argument is not. In general, if you think the PIs at Harvard, MIT, and Stanford are any less concerned with publishing than those at MSK and MD-A, then I think you're very mistaken.

 

[Ursus Martimus]

if you think the PIs at Harvard, MIT, and Stanford are any less concerned with publishing than those at MSK and MD-A, then I think you're very mistaken.

I'm pretty sure that was not the sentiment I conveyed and if it was, you are certainly right.

 

[pathdr2b]

Hmmm... I was being somewhat facetious.

Eh. Have a good day. 👍 😀

Perhaps, but this isn't the first time I've heard someone say that. 😀

 

[pathdr2b]

The mentors are great but you will be competing with a dozen post docs for face time. Sure you will be on papers, but will you be forced to really think on your own. .

Speaking for what I've seen at NIH, I can certainily see how this could be true at top research insitutions. One of the great difficulties of being at a place like the NIH is that it can be difficut to get "face time" and without a doubt, you're expected to do some thinking on your own.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

Perhaps, but this isn't the first time I've heard someone say that. 😀

😱

It is amazing how much 'faith' people put into medicine--as the cure-all science.

A large part of medicine really comes down to delaying the inevitable...

 

[Ursus Martimus]

😱

It is amazing how much 'faith' people put into medicine--as the cure-all science.
QUOTE]

Maybe so, you should check out this new book I have been reading between sips of coffee at Barnes and Noble.

The Anatomy of Hope: How Patients Prevail in the Face of Illness
Jerome Groopman

He's a heme/onc from one of the very places we are debating about

 

[SaltySqueegee]

😱

It is amazing how much 'faith' people put into medicine--as the cure-all science.
QUOTE]

Maybe so, you should check out this new book I have been reading between sips of coffee at Barnes and Noble.

The Anatomy of Hope: How Patients Prevail in the Face of Illness
Jerome Groopman

He's a heme/onc from one of the very places we are debating about

I've been looking at getting this book. Thanks for the recommend. I'll look into picking the book up after I finish the book "Doctors" from Erich Segal.

On a side note... I'm still up for grabs of what type of medical specialty I want to jump into. Are you interested in Cancer research/clinical? If so, what about it appeals to you?

 

[Ursus Martimus]

I was just trolling the book for ideas for an essay for residency. I'm thinking radiation oncology. I worked for Genentech in the molecular oncology dept for 3 years. I never gave the MD much thought but seeing how things seemed apriori to MD's I though I'd do both. NOw in my 24th grade I am drawing this school thing to an end. I think I am sticking with the cancer thing.

And by the way, the book is not great, in fact there are some pretty bad reviews on barnes and noble.com. Groopman was an scientific advisor to genetech and I remember him hob nobbing with he scientist around the corner from our lab, as the wafts of single malt wiskey they were enjoying tickled my nose, as I was completing a ligation. But the book is on sale online so, remember to set those expectations low and it might be more enjoyable.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

I was just trolling the book for ideas for an essay for residency. I'm thinking radiation oncology. I worked for Genentech in the molecular oncology dept for 3 years. I never gave the MD much thought but seeing how things seemed apriori to MD's I though I'd do both. NOw in my 24th grade I am drawing this school thing to an end. I think I am sticking with the cancer thing.

And by the way, the book is not great, in fact there are some pretty bad reviews on barnes and noble.com. Groopman was an scientific advisor to genetech and I remember him hob nobbing with he scientist around the corner from our lab, as the wafts of single malt wiskey they were enjoying tickled my nose, as I was completing a ligation. But the book is on sale online so, remember to set those expectations low and it might be more enjoyable.

Oh... so not a recommendation... 👎 hmmm...

I'll make sure to read the first chapter before I leave the bookstore. Thanks for the info. though

 

[coldchemist]

I don't know if this is the best way to approach the question of quality cancer biology programs, but here goes...

I've always assumed that schools that have NCI's "Comprehensive Cancer Center" status will probably have decent cancer and tumor biology programs. While it's true that this designation probably has more to do with clinical research, I usually assume that they also have pretty solid backup in the basic science departments. A list of the current Comprehensive Cancer Centers can be found on the NIH website.

 

[MumbleJumble]

With all due respect, Hopkins doesn't have a "Cancer Biology" track. What they do have are numerous opportunites to do research in this area through programs like Pathobiology and Cellular Medicine.

However, Hopkins does have Don Coffey, who has and still is training a whole generation of cancer researchers such as bert vogelstein and drew pardoll at hopkins and jonathan simons at emory.

 

[pathdr2b]

However, Hopkins does have Don Coffey, who has and still is training a whole generation of cancer researchers such as bert vogelstein and drew pardoll at hopkins and jonathan simons at emory.

😕