Master of Science

The Cancer Biology PhD program was established in 1978 at Stanford University. During the past four decades, our understanding of cancer has increased dramatically with the discovery of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, pathways of DNA damage and repair, cell cycle regulation, angiogenesis and responses to hypoxia, and the molecular basis of metastasis among others. In addition, methods of parallel analysis including gene expression arrays, and tissue arrays have begun to refine and redefine the taxonomy of cancer diagnosis. This explosion of basic and clinical science has in turn resulted in the first successful cancer chemotherapies and immunotherapies based on knowledge of specific molecular targets. Stanford presents a unique environment to pursue interdisciplinary cancer research because the School of Medicine, the School of Humanities and Sciences, and the School of Engineering are located on a single campus, all within walking distance of one another.

Our students are not limited to a single department in choosing their research advisor. The Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program currently has approximately 65 graduate students located in a variety of basic science and clinical departments throughout the School of Medicine and School of Humanities and Sciences. Many of our students are supported by a training grant from the National Cancer Institute, a branch of the United States government.