cancer center

  • Cancer Moonshot Initiative Recipients
  • Cancer Therapeutics program includes a cohesive group of scientists focused on target identification, drug discovery, development and translation to clinical trials.
  • Research core capabilities in combinatorial chemistry, animal imaging, molecular pharmacology and immune monitoring
  • Largest mouse biology program in the US
  • Innovation groups comprised of basic and translational scientists and multi-disciplinary clinician researchers focused on translating laboratory discoveries to patient treatments
  • To collaborate in basic science: https://research.ucdavis.edu/
  • First of its kind, formal research partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
  • Partnership with Jackson Laboratories with Sacramento campus being the location of their mouse-derived tumor xenografts repository
  • Home of the Explorer Project, an NCI-funded whole-body PET imaging development program
  • GMP facility on Sacramento campus
  • California National Primate Research Center on the Davis campus
  • Conducts 50+ clinical trials per year including first-in-human and cellular therapies
  • Trials in solid tumors and hematological malignancies
  • Enrolls 150+ patient per year to phase I trials
  • Ability to perform serial biopsies and pharmacokinetics
  • Dedicated phase I infusion space
  • The Sacramento Citywide Oncology Phase I (SCOPE) Program is a unique academic-community program with oncologists participating from:
    • Dignity Health
    • Kaiser Permanente
    • Sutter Health
    • Sierra Hematology & Oncology
    • UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center (all patients are treated in the phase I unit at UC Davis)
  • Conducts 150+ Phase I-III clinical trials per year
  • Conducts investigator-initiated, federal, and industry trials
  • Continuous federal funding for phase I and II trials through the NCI UM1 mechanism
  • Lead Academic Partner Site (LAPS) for the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN)
  • Engaged community network of sites through the Cancer Care Network
  • Large Health Disparities Program with special emphasis on Native American, Asian and Hispanic population access to clinical trials
  • For clinical research sponsors, email potential studies to HS-CancerOCRStartup. Confidentiality disclosure agreement, assessment of PI interest, feasibility questionnaires, and site qualification visits are facilitated through the OCR Startup team.
  • 50+ staff members with expertise in regulatory, clinical and data management, financial analysis, and compliance
  • Multi-site clinical trial monitoring and Quality assurance program
  • Contract service lines
  • Correlative laboratory with rapid on-site processing, storage, and shipping
  • Cancer center-dedicated IDS Pharmacy embedded within infusion center
  • Protocol development and IND management
  • 90-day activation timelines for institutional and industry trials

Mehrdad Abedi, M.D. © UC Regents

Mehrdad Abedi, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology

Oyebimpe Adesina © UC Regents

Oyebimpe Adesina, M.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology

Mili Arora, M.D. © UC Regents

Mili Arora, M.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Associate Director, Fellowship Program

Janai Carr-Ascher

Janai R. Carr-Ascher, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology

Helen Chew, M.D. © UC Regents Helen Chew, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Director, Clinical Breast Cancer Program
Director, Fellowship Program
Scott Christensen, M.D. © UC Regents Scott Christensen, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Associate Director, Hospice Program
David R. Gandara M.D. © UC Regents David R. Gandara, M.D.
Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Associate Director for Clinical Research, UC Davis Cancer Center
Director, Thoracic Oncology Program
Adam Giermasz, M.D. © UC Regents Adam Giermasz, M.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Co-Director, Hemophilia Treatment Program
Rasmus Hoeg, M.D. © UC Regents Rasmus Hoeg, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Kendra Hutchinson, M.D. © UC Regents Kendra Hutchinson, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Brian Jonas, M.D., Ph.D. © UC Regents Brian Jonas, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Theresa Keegan Theresa Keegan, Ph.D., M.S.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Paul Kaesberg, M.D. © UC Regents Paul Kaesberg, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Edward Kim, M.D., Ph.D. © UC Regents Edward Kim, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Medical Director, Office of Clinical Research
Primo Lara, M.D. © UC Regents Primo Lara, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
Tianhong Li, M.D., Ph.D. © UC Regents Tianhong Li, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Anjlee Mahajan, M.D. © UC Regents Anjlee Mahajan, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Mamta Parikh, M.D., M.S. © UC Regents Mamta Parikh, M.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Jonathan Riess, M.D., M.S. © UC Regents Jonathan Riess, M.D., M.S.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Director, Thoracic Oncology
Eve Rodler, M.D. © UC Regents Eve Rodler, M.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Aaron Rosenberg, M.D., M.S. © UC Regents Aaron Rosenberg, M.D., M.S.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Kit W. Tam, M.D. © UC Regents Kit W. Tam, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Joseph M. Tuscano, M.D. © UC Regents Joseph M. Tuscano, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology
Rashmi Verma, M. © UC Regents Rashmi Verma, M.D.
Assistant Health Science Clinical Professor
Jeanna Welborn, M.D. © UC Regents Jeanna Welborn, M.D.
Professor of Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Medical Director, Adult Infusion Unit
Ted Wun, M.D. © UC Regents Ted Wun, M.D.
Associate Dean for Research
Director of the UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center
Chief of Hematology and Oncology
Professor of Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

For translational and basic research, visit https://research.ucdavis.edu/

For clinical research, submit study offers to email HS-CancerOCRStartup@ucdavis.edu. Confidentiality disclosure agreements, assessment of PI interest, feasibility questionnaires and site qualification visits are facilitated through this team.