This program's mission is to provide students with:

  • Advanced knowledge in current concepts in molecular, cellular, and genetic processes that contribute to the development and treatment of cancer
  • Specialized training in experimental methodology used to study cancer in a laboratory setting
  • Required shadowing of clinical oncologists to help identify clinically-relevant research questions leading to projects with a potential impact on cancer patients

Learn about our program's curriculum

Curriculum Overview

The Graduate College requires the satisfactory completion of 72 semester hours in order to obtain a Ph.D.

Required Courses

For the first year, students take common courses with other Biomedical Science students.

Cancer is a term that encompasses over 210 different types of malignancies, each with a unique set of biological, etiological, and clinical features. Cancer researchers continue to widen their scope as more is learned, requiring a breadth of knowledge in many areas of research (e.g. cell biology, genetics, immunology, and cell metabolism) to understand the complexities of cancer etiology and treatment.

The Cancer Biology Program provides this knowledge through classroom and research training leading to a PhD degree, and preparing students for a variety of career paths in academic, clinical, and industry environments dealing with the study and/or treatment of cancer.

A campus visual from the Carver College of Medicine outdoor lawn space.

Ready to apply?

You can learn more about the application process and requirements here.

Events

Tippie College of Business Coffee Time, Graduate Programs for UIHC Employees promotional image

Tippie College of Business Coffee Time, Graduate Programs for UIHC Employees

Thursday, April 9, 2026 9:00am to 12:00pm
UI Hospital
Tabling event with free coffee and swag for all UIHC employees!

REDCap Surveys Training

Thursday, April 9, 2026 10:00am to 11:00am
Virtual

This is the third step in the REDCap training series. In this training, we will cover survey configuration and distribution such as:

Allowing potential participants to self-initiate participation in your study with public surveys

Manually and automatically sending surveys

Administering electronic consent (e-consent) forms

Controlling survey access with conditional logic and survey login

This training is a demo and not hands-on. After this training you will have a basic understanding of surveys in...

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. Michael Lagunoff promotional image

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. Michael Lagunoff

Thursday, April 9, 2026 10:30am to 11:20am
Medical Education Research Facility

This event is open to the public.

Alteration of cellular metabolism and lipids by the oncogenic virus, KSHV

Michael Lagunoff, PhD
MCB Graduate Program
University of Washington

Lagunoff Lab | https://faculty.washington.edu/lagunoff/#/

Faculty Co-Hosts: Miles Pufall, PhD and Jessica Tucker, PhD