Cancer Biology Program
Cancer biology is an academic discipline with a tangible end point: improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human cancers. The Program in Cancer Biology provides students interested in pursuing a career in cancer biology with rigorous training in biochemistry, genetics, molecular and cell biology, as well as an understanding of the clinical aspects of cancer. The program is based in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, but it also includes faculty from most basic science departments and several clinical departments. The strength and diversity of the faculty enable students to explore different approaches to the study of cancer in their laboratory rotations and to develop inter-departmental and interdisciplinary collaborations during their thesis research. This program is also an integral component of the UMass Cancer Center and it affords students the opportunity to participate in disease-based programs of the Cancer Center that are designed to translate achievements from the basic sciences to the clinical management of human cancers.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIALIZATION
All Basic Biomedical Science students must complete the core curriculum as well as electives required by their program. Students in the Cancer Biology program must take 3 graded elective courses of 2-4 credits each, two of which must be Histology and Tumor Pathology and Cancer Biology and Medicine.
OUR LEADERSHIP & FACULTY
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Lucio Castilla, PhD
Program Director
email Dr. Castilla
Visit the Castilla lab site
William Flavahan, PhD
Deputy Program Director
email Dr. Flavahan
View Flavahan profile
Marcus Ruscetti, PhD
Deputy Program Director
email Dr. Ruscetti
Visit the Ruscetti lab site
FACULTY
Our faculty come from most basic science departments and several clinical departments, and study a wide range of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies using diverse cell and animal model systems. The strength and diversity of the faculty enable students to explore different approaches to the study of cancer in their laboratory rotations and to develop inter-departmental and interdisciplinary collaborations during their thesis research.
Research areas of our faculty include:
- Cancer Cell Biology
- Cancer Cell Signaling
- Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics
- Cancer Stem Cell Function
- Tumor Immunology / Immunotherapy
- Tumor Invasion and Metastasis
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Therapeutic Targeting
- Cancer Drug Discovery
View the affiliated faculty listing for the Cancer Biology Program.
Michael R. Green, MD, PhD, Award in Graduate Research
A tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Green to science and education
This annual award recognizes outstanding graduate students at UMass Chan whose accomplishments, perseverance and commitment to research excellence have distinguished them from their peers.
Now accepting applications for the 2025 competition!
Application deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025 at 5:00 pm
EVENTS
CANCER BIOLOGY PROGRAM RESEARCH RETREAT
The annual Cancer Biology Program Research Retreat is an all-day event that brings together researchers from UMass Chan Medical School studying diverse aspects of cancer biology, and is a free, private event for the UMass Chan community. The retreat is planned by trainees in the Cancer Biology Program, and features platform presentations, a poster session, and a keynote address from a distinguished scientist.
Save the Date!
The 2025 Cancer Biology Program Research Retreat will be held at the Hogan Campus Center at the College of the Holy Cross on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 from 8:00AM-5:00PM.
Keynote Speaker: Ranjit Bindra, MD, PhD
Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor of Therapeutic Radiology and
Professor of Pathology
Yale School of Medicine
2023 CANCER BIOLOGY PROGRAM OPEN HOUSE
On September 7th, the Cancer Biology Program organized an Open House poster session to welcome the Morningside GSBS first year students and to introduce the diverse research programs in cancer biology that we have at UMass Chan Medical School. This casual event, with refreshments and snacks, was a great opportunity to meet other trainees and to select rotation labs.
OUR STUDENTS
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Our students consistently produce high-impact work, presenting their research at national conferences and publishing in leading peer-reviewed journals. Many students have obtained NIH predoctoral fellowships and received prestigious institutional and national awards for their academic scholarship, mentorship, and community service.
View recent student accomplishments
In addition to these accomplishments, our students organize an annual Cancer Biology Program Research Retreat, which includes selecting, inviting and hosting a distinguished scientist as the keynote speaker. Recent keynote speakers include: William Sellers, MD, Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD, William G. Kaelin Jr, MD, and Matthew Vander Heiden, MD, PhD.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Emmet Karner, PhD Candidate
Cancer Biology Program
Emmet Karner studies an iron-dependent form of cell death called ferroptosis. Figuring out the cell biological mechanisms that contribute to ferroptosis resistance in carcinomas could lead to new cancer therapy options and improve the prognosis for patients.
Jessica Peura, PhD Candidate
Cancer Biology Program
Jessica Peura, MS, studies pancreatic cancer in the lab of Jason Pitarresi, PhD, assistant professor of medicine. She aims to create an animal model that could be a game changer.
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Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences class speaker will remind classmates to ‘live in the present’
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PhD candidate studies red blood cells; strives to increase diversity in STEM
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VEGF/Neuropilin-2 Signaling and Radioresistance in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
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Modulation of mitochondrial biogenesis by the Integrated Stress Response (ISR)
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Modulating the immunosuppressive pancreas tumor microenvironment through intratumoral delivery of cytokine-encoding mRNAs
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Discovery of a novel role of VPS13D in Autophagy
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Targeting dormant leukemia-initiating cells in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
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Integrin Regulation of Mammary Gland Development
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Investigating YAP1 control of differentiation and metabolism in Hepatoblastoma
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Integrin Function in Breast Cancer Initiation
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Impact of Beclin 1 Loss on Breast Cancer Progression
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Targeting BMP signaling to treat advanced melanoma and suppress therapeutic resistance
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Examining BMP signaling as a regulator of neural crest identity during melanoma initiation and progression
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The Impact of IRS2-microtubule interactions in the progression of breast cancer
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POST-DEGREE CAREERS
Graduates of the Cancer Biology Program have obtained post-doctoral fellowships at leading institutions including Harvard Medical School, MIT, NIH and Yale, and have obtained industry positions in reknowned companies such as Sanofi and Novartis.