History and Background of the Program

" In the 19th century, the light microscope opened a new frontier in the study of disease by opening a window on the inner workings of the cell.
"… At the cusp of the 21st century, new molecular-based technologies are bringing us to a similar epiphany: ‘Defining the Signatures of Cancer Cells. ’"

Richard Klausner
Director
National Cancer Institute

Dr. Richard Klausner, Director of the National Cancer Institute, foresaw the enormous potential of the rapidly-progressing human genome project and the impact of improving technology to represent genes on microarrays that could be used to analyze gene expression.

In Fall 1998, Dr. Klausner announced his Director’s Challenge program, through which ten centers nationwide would be established to utilize the emerging knowledge of the genome and the microarray technology to define profiles for all major human cancers.

Dr. David Tarin organized the SKCC/ UCSD proposal that was ultimately awarded $5.7 million over a 5-year period (effective 10/99).

Our study offers you the opportunity to fight back, and heavily depends on YOUR participation—the pathologists, the urologists, and of course, the patients.

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