The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center brings together scientists, clinicians, and community partners to advance cancer research, deliver leading-edge care, and improve outcomes for patients across our region and beyond. As the region’s only academic cancer center, we integrate discovery, innovation, and collaboration to move research findings into real-world impact.

Our work spans the full continuum of cancer research and care, from understanding the fundamental biology of cancer to developing new therapies, improving prevention and screening, and supporting patients and survivors throughout their cancer journey.

Structure of a Cancer Center

Cancer centers integrate multidisciplinary patient care with robust research, from basic laboratory research that investigates the fundamental mechanisms of cancer to translational research that bridges discoveries from the lab to the clinic, as well as population-based research focused on prevention and control. This synergistic approach ensures that scientific advancements directly inform patient care, driving progress in cancer prevention and treatment.

At the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, our clinical enterprise delivers comprehensive, multidisciplinary patient care and provides access to cutting-edge treatments and a broad portfolio of clinical trials. In parallel, our research enterprise advances scientific discovery across basic, clinical, and population-based research, supported by shared resources, community outreach efforts, and training programs that cultivate the next generation of cancer researchers and health care providers.

Together, these integrated efforts accelerate the movement of discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic and into the community.

Our Catchment Area and Community Focus

As the only academic cancer center in the region, the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center serves a catchment area that includes seven counties in southwest Ohio and three counties in northern Kentucky, representing nearly 2.7 million people. This region includes both densely populated urban centers and rural communities, each with distinct health needs and cancer risk profiles. Understanding cancer patterns and health needs within this region guides our research priorities, clinical programs, and prevention strategies, ensuring our work is aligned with the communities we serve.

Cancer Burden and Priority Focus Areas

Cancer patterns in our region differ from national averages, with higher incidence rates for several major cancer types and significant opportunities for prevention and early detection. To address the most pressing needs in our catchment area, the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center has identified three priority disease areas for focused research, clinical programs, and community engagement:

• Tobacco-Related Cancers (lung and head/neck cancer)
• Hormone-Related Cancers (breast and prostate cancer)
• Blood Cancers

The Cancer Center also prioritizes modifiable risk factors that influence cancer development and survivorship outcomes, where evidence-based interventions can have a meaningful impact:

• Cancer Screening Rates
• Tobacco Use
• Obesity & Physical Inactivity
• Mental Health Among Survivors

By aligning scientific discovery, clinical care, and community-focused initiatives around these disease areas and risk factors, the Cancer Center works to reduce cancer burden and improve outcomes across the diverse populations we serve.