Director’s Message

Every breakthrough begins with a question—how can we do more, go further, and bring hope to more people facing cancer? At the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, that question drives everything we do.

With our redesignation as an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center and renewal of our Cancer Center Support Grant for 2025–2030, we’re poised to build on our legacy of discovery and accelerate progress across the full spectrum of cancer research—from the lab bench, to the patient’s bedside, to the community. Our teams are advancing next-generation cell therapies that harness the body’s own immune system, uncovering why cancers are rising in younger adults, and leading efforts in precision prevention to stop cancer before it starts.

The future of cancer care relies on bringing cures to our patients earlier and in more personalized ways—from a deeper understanding of individual risk, to earlier detection and screening, to more effective therapies, and ultimately, more comprehensive survivorship. Together with our partners across Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian, we are charting that future: one where cancer is not only treated, but anticipated, prevented, and ultimately eliminated.