University of Vermont Cancer Center Research Programs

UVM Cancer Center programs are organized to facilitate translation of discoveries from innovative basic science and translational investigation to clinical trials. The ultimate goal is to introduce innovative improvements to cancer patient care. Through partnerships of researchers in our UVM Cancer Center programs with physician-investigators in our transdisciplinary teams (TDTs), our programs focus on the biological continuum of cancer control, initiation, progression, and population dynamics with emphasis on translating laboratory discovery to patient care.

Cancer Control and Population Health Sciences (CCPHS)

Addresses timely questions that are relevant to cancer prevention, early detection and survivorship with a focus in the areas of breast cancer screening, tobacco control and survivorship; additional focus on these in the context of our rural catchment area.

CCPHS program leaders: Andrea Villanti, Bernard "Chip" Cole, and Marie Wood (left to right)

Program Leaders

Andrea Villanti, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Bernard “Chip” Cole, PhD, Professor of Statistics

Marie Wood, MD, Professor of Medicine

Scientific Program Themes

  1. Ascertainment and evaluation of risk factors contributing to development of cancer; specifically, behavioral risk factors and biomarkers of risk.
  2. Evaluation and development of cancer screening strategies with emphasis on harm reduction.
  3. Investigation and improvement of health-related outcomes and quality of life for cancer survivors.
  4. Ascertainment and improvement of access to high-quality cancer care and cancer prevention for rural populations.

Program Members

For a list of current CCPHS Members, Click HERE.

Host Factors and Tumor Progression (HFTP)

Encompasses chronic inflammation, obesity, diet, exercise, nutrition, coagulation, immune surveillance and modulation, vaccines, tumor cell niches, metastasis, and symptom management. This program focuses on parameters in the host that promote or impede progression or recurrence, with an emphasis on host conditions that may influence progression to clinically significant disease.

HFTP Program Leaders: Ruth Heimann and Jane Lian (left to right)

Program Leaders

Ruth Heimann, MD, PhD, Professor of Radiation Oncology

Jane B. Lian, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry



Scientific Program Themes

  1. Mechanisms of cancer contributed by host factors from initiation to metastasis in order to develop clinically relevant solutions.
  2. Influence of the tumor tissue microenvironment from various cell types (CSCs, stromal, hematopoietic and immune cells) on migration, angiogenesis, EMT and metastasis.
  3. Translation of findings to patient care.




Program Members

For a list of current HFTP Members, Click HERE.

Molecular Mechanisms of Malignancy (MMM)

Basic research in cancer stem cells, DNA damage and repair, genome instability, cell cycle defects, corruption of signaling pathways, redox homeostasis, changes in cell differentiation and cell metabolism, cell motility, and environmental carcinogens. Discovery in this program is directed toward identifying cellular biomarkers with prognostic value and new therapeutic targets.

MMM Program Leaders: Marc Greenblatt and Seth Freitze (left to right)

Program Leaders

Marc Greenblatt, MD, Professor of Medicine

Seth Frietze, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical and Health Sciences, UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences


Scientific Program Themes

  1. Epigenetics.
  2. Molecular mechanisms of hematological malignancies.
  3. Mechanisms of breast cancer progression and breast cancer treatment response.
  4. DNA damage and repair and its role in carcinogenesis.
  5. Redox signaling in the pathology and therapy of disease.




Program Members

For a list of current MMM Members, Click HERE.

Primary Areas of Research

The UVM Cancer Center polled our members to find out the main focus of their cancer-related research. Click here for a list of UVM Cancer Center Areas of Study. Cancer Center members may use this document as a starting point for future collaboration.