"The HICCC is not only celebrating our past, but looking toward the next 50 years of cancer research and care."

Fifty years ago, the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) became one of the first cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), sparking explosive growth and expansion of cancer research and care. Today, the HICCC spans six schools and 38 departments across Columbia University, bringing together world-class expertise with one goal: to end cancer. Our researchers and clinicians, in partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian, are transforming cancer care, research, education, and outreach, looking at cancer from all angles to find new ways to not just treat cancer, but cure it – even stopping cancer before it starts. The HICCC is not only celebrating our past, but looking toward the next 50 years of cancer research and care. This year, in celebration of 50 years of NCI designation, our cancer center hosted a research symposium dedicated to exploring new frontiers in cancer research and care, with keynote speakers Dr. Ned Sharpless, recent NCI director, and Dr. Margaret Foti, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research. HICCC experts shared innovations in topics like artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, systems biology, and precision prevention, where our experts are leading the way in identifying approaches to improve cancer diagnosis, reduce cancer risk, and ultimately stop cancer before it starts, at a population and personalized level. We are also leading the way in our efforts in community outreach and diversity, equity, and inclusion in cancer care and research, which was on display when First Lady Jill Biden and Queen Letizia of Spain visited our cancer center on September 21st. We shared with them our efforts in educational programs in our community to inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers, initiatives to improve representation in clinical trials for historically underrepresented groups, and our international collaborations. It was a wonderful celebratory day punctuated by the efforts of the Moonshot Initiative to push the boundaries of collaboration to reach new heights in cancer research and care, to which our cancer center is dedicated. I invite you to explore the stories shared in this year’s annual report, which highlight the important work of our cancer center, its members, our advisory boards, community partners, and many collaborators across different industries and groups. We are delighted to celebrate this historic milestone of 50 years of NCI designation, and look forward to the next 50 years and beyond, working towards our vision that our discoveries here will end cancer everywhere.

Anil K. Rustgi, MD

"The HICCC is not only celebrating our past, but looking toward the next 50 years of cancer research and care."

Fifty years ago, the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) became one of the first cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), sparking explosive growth and expansion of cancer research and care. Today, the HICCC spans six schools and 38 departments across Columbia University, bringing together world-class expertise with one goal: to end cancer. Our researchers and clinicians, in partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian, are transforming cancer care, research, education, and outreach, looking at cancer from all angles to find new ways to not just treat cancer, but cure it – even stopping cancer before it starts. The HICCC is not only celebrating our past, but looking toward the next 50 years of cancer research and care. This year, in celebration of 50 years of NCI designation, our cancer center hosted a research symposium dedicated to exploring new frontiers in cancer research and care, with keynote speakers Dr. Ned Sharpless, recent NCI director, and Dr. Margaret Foti, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research. HICCC experts shared innovations in topics like artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, systems biology, and precision prevention, where our experts are leading the way in identifying approaches to improve cancer diagnosis, reduce cancer risk, and ultimately stop cancer before it starts, at a population and personalized level. We are also leading the way in our efforts in community outreach and diversity, equity, and inclusion in cancer care and research, which was on display when First Lady Jill Biden and Queen Letizia of Spain visited our cancer center on September 21st. We shared with them our efforts in educational programs in our community to inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers, initiatives to improve representation in clinical trials for historically underrepresented groups, and our international collaborations. It was a wonderful celebratory day punctuated by the efforts of the Moonshot Initiative to push the boundaries of collaboration to reach new heights in cancer research and care, to which our cancer center is dedicated. I invite you to explore the stories shared in this year’s annual report, which highlight the important work of our cancer center, its members, our advisory boards, community partners, and many collaborators across different industries and groups. We are delighted to celebrate this historic milestone of 50 years of NCI designation, and look forward to the next 50 years and beyond, working towards our vision that our discoveries here will end cancer everywhere. Sincerely,

Herbert and Florence Irving Director, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center