Institutes, Divisions & Centers
Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute

Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute Research

The vision of the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute is to be the global leader in leading-edge cancer / blood disease care, research and education.

Our mission is:

  • To expand innovative basic science with integrated new approaches in leading-edge translational clinical research 
  • To define new standards and models for outstanding clinical care and continual outcomes improvement
  • To provide excellence and new paradigms in education and training
  • To build a shared culture of discovery, innovation, compassion and quality

Collaboration, Innovation and Leadership in Research

Researchers are pursuing new clues about the causes of blood diseases, cancer and immune deficiency disorders and developing more effective targeted therapies for them through scientific discovery, innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Cincinnati Children’s has been a leader in basic science and clinical research for decades. In 2009, we established the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute to formally align our strong clinical care and research programs, enhancing collaborations and speeding the transfer of new knowledge from the laboratory to patient care. Beyond the institute, our faculty members partner with researchers and clinicians in other research and clinical divisions, including developmental biology, immunobiology, radiology and nephrology.

Basic Research

Scientific inquiry drives the creation of knowledge. Researchers in the Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology explore how abnormalities in our genetic code and cell signaling pathways contribute to the development of cancer and blood diseases. These researchers seek to understand the mechanisms of blood diseases and cancer and lay the foundation for exciting new approaches to diagnosing, treating and even curing some of the most serious diseases of childhood and adolescence.

Translational and Clinical Research

The institute promotes close collaborations between basic scientists and the physicians who care for our patients and lead our clinical research efforts. What we learn in the laboratory will have a significant impact on future patient care, and insights from the clinic can prompt new investigations in the laboratory. Our faculty are leaders in national consortia developing new therapies for cancer, blood diseases and immune disorders. Our patients have early access to many new therapies, sometimes years before they are available at other centers.

What Sets Our Research Program Apart

  • Well-established clinical researchers, who provide leadership for national studies
  • Leading-edge laboratory research that focuses on stem cell biology, molecular and gene therapy, leukemia biology, cell signaling, cancer biology and pathology and the use of genetically reprogrammed viruses to kill tumors
  • State-of-the-art technology, including special programs to support gene and cellular therapy initiatives
  • The ability to transfer laboratory breakthroughs to the patient care setting
  • Patient access to novel therapies, sometimes years before they are widely available
  • A commitment to educate and train researchers of the future, through fellowships, seminars and other opportunities
  • Contributions to the world-wide research community through extensive publication of research findings

Statistics at a Glance

Research and Training

  • Faculty: 89
  • Joint Appointment Faculty: 21
  • Research Graduate Students: 31
  • Research Fellows and Post Docs: 32

Clinical Activities and Training

  • Staff Physicians: 18
  • Staff Psychologists: 1
  • Clinical Fellows: 21
  • Inpatient Encounters: 2,751
  • Outpatient Encounters: 32,827