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Huntsman Cancer Institute demonstrates a continuing commitment to
translational research with the Director’s Translational Research Initiative. This annual
program’s specific goals include the following:
- to promote collaborative scientific interactions between outstanding basic and clinical
investigators at HCI and the University of Utah
- to provide assistance for investigators seeking rapid clinical translation of novel basic
and preclinical observations
- to foster the engagement of clinical scientists with appropriate basic science and/or
technologic expertise in investigating novel cellular, molecular, histopathologic, and imaging
endpoints in conjunction with HCI clinical trials
Translational research focuses on linking laboratory discoveries and clinical observations
to advance cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention rapidly. Examples of aims for
translational research studies include the following:
- to validate novel molecular targets for cancer treatment
- to test novel diagnostic markers that predict tumor responsiveness to therapy
- to test novel diagnostic markers for the presence of disease
- to identify novel compounds that interact with specific molecular targets
- to identify biologics (such as antibodies or protein fragments) that interact with
cancer cell surface targets for treatment, diagnosis, or imaging
- to explore novel clinical uses of existing drugs for the prevention or treatment of cancer
- to use imaging technology for monitoring tumor responses to therapy
- to develop improved animal models of human cancer
- to use genetic resources to stratify clinical trial populations
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