Research

One of only seven National Cancer Institute-designated Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers in the U.S., we are a hub for scientific leadership and basic cancer research. An active Community Advisory Board further supports our mission, educating the public and advancing patient advocacy.

We get to the heart of biological processes in muscle cells and tissues to discover new treatments for millions suffering from debilitating muscular conditions and cardiovascular disease — the leading cause of death in the U.S.

To improve the quality of life for a rapidly aging worldwide population, we use molecular approaches to gain a therapeutically actionable understanding of diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Metabolism is fundamental to life, yet metabolic malfunction causes disorders ranging from obesity and diabetes to inflammatory bowel disease. These conditions threaten vital internal organs, including the body’s largest — the liver.

By better understanding how cell nuclei give rise to tumors and other malignancies, we learn how to prevent, block and repair genetic growth modifications that lead to cancer.

Cancer is the consequence of highly organized cells and molecules, fueled by disinformation, that create abnormal tissues and deadly tumors. We seek to understand how cancer cells survive and thrive within their microenvironment, and how to intervene to combat them.

Using the most sophisticated technologies, we are advancing the discovery and development of new cancer drugs based on emerging insights into cancer biology at the molecular level.

Proteins are necessary to the construction, function and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs. But when a protein doesn’t have the correct shape and is ‘misfolded’, it can cause great harm. In fact, every degenerative disease is associated with misfolded proteins. We are unraveling their secrets.

Aging is inevitable, but how it happens can be optimized. By parsing how biological processes change over time and under different conditions, we reveal how aging affects disease and how development and regeneration can be modified and improved to promote healthy aging.

Our genes play critical, but often unseen or poorly understood roles, in our risk for certain diseases and in our general well being. We dig for the genetic roots of human health disorders, translating that unearthed knowledge into tangible treatments.

One in three American adults has metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that includes coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke. This trend is mirrored in diseases of the liver, an organ crucial to metabolic function. By understanding what drives these diverse conditions, we can find ways to prevent, slow and even stop the rising onslaught.

Age-related disease and degeneration affects everyone. We study the biology of aging and turn research insights into longer, healthier lives.

Stem cell research helps us understand the origins of disease and the biomechanics of human health, providing a foundation for scientific discovery and therapeutic treatment.

At our Sanford Children’s Health Center, we advance research into rare diseases that predominantly affect children, many of which are under-addressed or misdiagnosed.

Overreactions in the body’s immune system can result in harmful inflammation and autoimmune disorders. Understanding immunity can lead to novel treatments.