• Research, cells

    Innovative research that’s breaking barriers

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is a national leader in basic and clinical research and innovative approaches to cancer diagnosis, treatment and health disparities.

Our cancer center has unique collaborations with major scientific organizations such as the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and UC Davis departments and schools including the School of Veterinary Medicine. These partnerships have resulted in new techniques that improve cancer detection through imaging, better drug therapies and therapeutic strategies, and more effective approaches to treating and curing cancer.

Our Research Programs

Our Research Programs are made up of cancer center members (basic, clinical, public health scientists and engineers) who are experts in a variety of disciplines and an interest in tackling some of the most complex challenges in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.


Molecular Oncology

Basic scientists working to unravel cancer’s molecular secrets to better understand, diagnose and treat cancers

Comparative Oncology

Veterinarians and oncologists working together to advance cancer research and treatment for pets that will ultimately benefit human patients

Cancer Therapeutics

Clinical and basic scientists developing innovative methods for identifying and developing new agents and delivery systems to treat cancer

Biomedical Technology

Engineers and clinical scientists applying innovative technologies to solve challenges in tumor detection and analysis, drug delivery and disease monitoring to improve cancer care and outcomes

Population Sciences and Health Disparities

Public health scientists dedicated to understanding why cancer affects people differently and finding ways to eliminate disparities among racial and ethnic groups

Office of Clinical Research at UC Davis

More than 400 cancer clinical trials are currently under way at UC Davis. The Office of Clinical Research is responsible for overseeing and managing investigator-initiated, industry-sponsored and federally funded Phase I-III trials at the cancer center.

Research highlights

Our scientists work together to bring new discoveries to the clinic for better patient care and treatment and are involved in numerous federal, state, and foundation funded projects. Projects range from collaboration on better research models for new therapies to early-phase phase clinical research programs such as a unique comparative oncology program studying novel therapies benefiting both pet dogs and human cancer patients.

Membership resources for researchers

Become a part of the research community at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. Learn more about becoming a member and the shared resources available to our researchers.