Established in 1970, the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center is named for the legendary Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins coach Vince Lombardi, who was treated for cancer at Georgetown University Hospital. What began as a small clinic grew over the years to become a state-of-the-art cancer center.

In 1990, Lombardi won the designation of "Comprehensive Cancer Center" from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). To obtain this designation, a center must meet strict research, clinical trials and community outreach criteria. In 2003, Lombardi's comprehensive cancer center status was renewed by the NCI.

Lombardi's internationally-renowned clinical team offers the latest treatments for virtually every type of cancer, with a particular emphasis in solid tumors and adult and pediatric hematologic cancers.
Tumor Biology Training Program

Program Overview

Masters in Tumor Biology
Recognizing that many scientific careers require training beyond the bachelor's degree, but not to the extent of the doctorate, the Tumor Biology Program has implemented a Masters of Science program specifically to meet the needs of these individuals. The M.S. program provides students with an interdisciplinary concentration in the study of Tumor Biology. The program provides a comprehensive curriculum for students interested in cancer research as well as laboratory research experience. Faculty research areas include cancer genetics, molecular epidemiology and biomarkers, drug resistance, chemotherapeutics, growth factors and oncogenes, angiogenesis and metastasis, malignant transformation, hormones and cancer, clinical oncology, and cell division.

The M.S. in Tumor Biology program is a one year (2 full-time semester) program with admissions in the fall semester. The formal requirements for a MS degree in Tumor Biology are completion of 30 graduate credits and a laboratory experience (Cancer Research Techniques) over two semesters.

Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. in Tumor Biology
The formal requirements for a doctoral degree in the Tumor Biology Program are completion of 33 credit hours, with at least a B average (including the designated core courses), three (3) different laboratory rotations, satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination, a thesis proposal, a written dissertation, and a final oral defense. It is anticipated that following completion of the first two years of formal course work (or one year for MD/PhD students with approximately 30 hours of credit from the medical school) that completion of the final phases of the PhD will require approximately three additional years.