Institute Profile

History

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) was founded in 1947 as the Children's Cancer Research Foundation and incorporated in 1951 as a nonprofit institution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The purpose of the foundation, as stated in the Articles of Incorporation, was "to operate, conduct and support an institution of pediatric research in relation to the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer in children." In 1969, the Articles of Incorporation were amended to include activities for patients of all ages. In July 1974, the foundation was renamed the Sidney Farber Cancer Center in honor of its founder. In 1976, the name was changed to the Sidney Farber Cancer Institute, and in 1983 a change to the present name was made in recognition of the long-term support of the Charles A. Dana Foundation.

DFCI has been supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a cancer center since the early 1960s and was designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by NCI in 1973. In addition, since September 1989, it has been supported as a Center for AIDS Research by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). In 1995, DFCI's research programs were reorganized from 17 divisions and seven independent laboratories into five departments. A sixth department, Radiation Oncology, was added in 2000.

Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare

On January 30, 1996, DFCI executed a memorandum of understanding with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital for the purpose of coordinating all aspects of clinical care and research in adult oncology among these three institutions. In June 1996, a joint venture agreement was enacted establishing the Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare (DF/PCC) system. This joint venture not only linked the adult cancer care practices at these three institutions but also provided the opportunity and impetus to form new collaborations in clinical research activities at the two primary sites of cancer care, one at Massachusetts General Hospital and the other at DFCI and Brigham and Women's Hospital in the Harvard-Longwood Medical Area.

To provide for the expanded clinical activities of the joint venture, DFCI's licensed inpatient beds were transferred to Brigham and Women's Hospital in early 1997, and DFCI was remodeled to provide three floors of ambulatory clinic space for DF/PCC's Longwood site. Similarly, at Massachusetts General Hospital, the clinical facilities in the Cox Building were extensively renovated and expanded. Currently DFCI and DF/PCC through their affiliates have access to a patient population comprising approximately 10,000 new cases annually, creating the largest clinical cancer care and research structure in the country. Through the three hospitals and their affiliates, these patients receive the newest and most promising treatment regimens and participate in the development of comprehensive strategies for cancer prevention, early detection, and both genetic and environmental risk analysis.

Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center

In 1997, members of the Harvard medical and public health community, including DFCI, began exploring better ways to work together to translate their research discoveries into human applications. Out of these discussions came a consortium of institutions that expanded the Dana-Farber Cancer Center and provided opportunities and incentives for collaboration among basic, population, and clinical researchers. Joined in this consortium were DFCI, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, and Massachusetts General Hospital. The consortium created the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) to promote advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and therapy. DFCI provides the central administration for this seveninstitution consortium cancer center, which was funded by NCI and officially recognized as an NCIdesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2000.

The primary goal of DF/HCC is to reduce the burden of cancer through the discovery of ever more powerful preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies. DF/HCC fosters increased collaboration across the entire Harvard cancer research community, and this collection of talent has been organized into research programs. Initially, five were disease-based (Breast Cancer, Gynecologic Oncology, Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Prostate Cancer) and 10 were discipline-based (Biostatistics, Cancer Cell Biology, Cancer Genetics, Cancer Immunology, Viral Oncology, Cancer Epidemiology, Cancer Risk Reduction, Outcomes Research, Cancer Imaging, and Experimental Therapeutics). In 2000, Neuro-Oncology was added as a new diseasebased program. In the competitive renewal application submitted to the NCI in February 2005, another three programs were added: Gastrointestinal Malignancies, Renal Cancer, and Lung Cancer. All programs are served by a Web-based communication system that disseminates information and facilitates research in a multidimensional way — supported by core research facilities designed to meet both current and future experimental needs.

Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center

Since 1997, when Dana-Farber moved its inpatient beds to Brigham and Women's Hospital and Brigham and Women's transferred its hematology and oncology outpatient services to DFCI, the two institutions have progressively integrated their support services in medical oncology, surgical oncology, nursing, pharmacy, psychiatry, pain and palliative care, infusion, radiation oncology, transfusion, nutrition, and other cancer-related areas. In September 2004, as part of an ongoing effort to create a model cancer center, the two organizations formalized their partnership in adult oncology with the creation of the Dana-Farber/ Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC). The new center will encompass the cancer programs at both partner hospitals, as well as those at Faulkner Hospital, Brigham and Women's at Chestnut Hill, and other satellite locations. Services will cover the full continuum of care — from screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to survivorship, palliative care, and end-of-life care.

Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Care

Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Care — a joint program in pediatric oncology and hematology — was formally created in 2000 after many decades of informal partnership between DFCI and Children's Hospital Boston. This formal agreement governs DFCI's affiliation with Children's Hospital, whose 26-bed inpatient unit is the site of pediatric oncology inpatient care by DFCI staff physicians, while outpatient care is provided at DFCI's Jimmy Fund Clinic. The long-standing relationship with Children's Hospital Boston provides the basis for a seamless system of pediatric care for cancer patients and their families.

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Organization and Operation

Although DFCI is an independent organization governed by its own Board of Trustees, it maintains strong affiliations as a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and neighboring hospitals in the Harvard-Longwood Medical Area. Most members of DFCI's doctoral-level medical and scientific staff hold concurrent Harvard appointments.

DFCI's research programs, which until 1995 were accommodated within 24 divisions and independent laboratories, are now organized within six departments. The programs represent an integration of basic and clinical research and encompass all aspects of cancer biology, ranging from basic interests in cell growth and regulation, genetics, molecular biology, tumor virology, and immunology, to applied studies in medical and pediatric oncology, cancer pharmacology, biostatistics, epidemiology, outcomes research, radiation biology, and gynecologic oncology.

The Executive Committee for Research (ECR), a faculty leadership committee composed of department chairs and directors of interdepartmental research programs, oversees research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Chaired by the late Stanley Korsmeyer, MD, from 2000 to 2004, the ECR is currently chaired by David M. Livingston, MD. The ECR advises the president and chief scientific officer on matters pertaining to research at the Institute including policies, faculty recruitment, space allocation, core research support needs, and strategic planning for research. The membership of the ECR is listed in the Governance and Leadership section of this report.

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Research, Education, and Training Activities

DFCI has long been recognized as an independent research organization — a free-standing cancer institute with over 50% of its activity in research. Our research activities extend from basic to translational and clinical research. This Scientific Report summarizes these activities from 2003 through 2005. The Institute also serves as a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and, as such, supports extensive participation by its professional staff in medical education, research training, and clinical training. Considerable overlap exists among these programs since one of the Institute's primary objectives is the integration of research findings into clinical practice.

At Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, DFCI staff members serve as teaching faculty for graduate and undergraduate courses in the basic biomedical and related sciences. Medical staff members serve as faculty for medical student clinical clerkships, form the Pediatric Oncology service at Children's Hospital, and function as attending physicians at Brigham and Women's Hospital. DFCI offers elective courses for medical students in medical and pediatric oncology, and research opportunities are available in every laboratory and department of the Institute. Most members of DFCI's professional staff hold faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School or Harvard School of Public Health, and many participate as mentors for institutional predoctoral and postdoctoral training programs at Harvard or neighboring Harvardaffiliated hospitals. DFCI also maintains educational partnerships with local high schools and colleges to provide opportunities for students to explore careers in health and science.

As of July 1, 2005, the Institute was supporting approximately 44 graduate students, most of whom were enrolled in degree programs at Harvard University, and 483 individuals receiving postdoctoral training, many of whom held National Research Service Awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other individual fellowship awards. DFCI is the recipient of three institutional training awards. One program, Research Training in Cancer Immunology (T32CA70083), is directed by Harvey Cantor, MD, and supports five postdoctoral trainees. Graduate Training in Cancer Research (T32CA09172), directed by Robert Mayer, MD, provides support form 14 trainees. The third program, Molecular Analysis of Neoplastic Disease (T32CA09361), directed by Charles Stiles, PhD, supports four predoctoral and 12 postdoctoral trainees. To complement their research training experience, trainees have an opportunity to broaden their knowledge base by attending a weekly seminar series titled Seminars in Oncology. A committee that includes faculty, fellows, and students selects the topics and speakers for this series, and most speakers are from outside the Institute. The seminars draw an audience from the entire Boston biomedical research community.

Funding for Research and Training

DFCI derives financial support for its research and training activities from a variety of sources including federal and local governments, for-profit corporations, and private societies and foundations. Funds awarded to support these activities were about $179 million and $187 million in fiscal years 2003 and 2004, respectively. Funds awarded for the research and training program in fiscal year 2005 were approximately $182.5 million, which represents about 34% of the Institute's overall annual operating revenue. The major source of research support for DFCI staff scientists is the investigator-initiated grant. In fiscal year 2005, approximately 66% of the Institute's research support was derived from federal research grants and contracts. The remaining funds were provided by nonfederal organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Leukemia Society of America, American Foundation for AIDS Research, and private industry. In fiscal year 2004, the most recent year for NIH statistics, DFCI ranked 51st among more than 3,100 institutions in receipt of NIH funds. When ranked among approximately 120 independent hospitals in 2004, DFCI placed third in receipt of NIH research awards, preceded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, respectively.

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Core Support Facilities and Services

In support of its research and educational activities, the Institute has developed and centrally maintains a variety of core facilities and service functions, including the following:

Animal resources: Provides a centralized, state-of-the-art animal housing and research environment as well as on-site technical services.
Biohazard containment: Offers technical support in the preparation and propagation of viral stock and cell lines as well as phenotypic characterization of virus variants.
Biostatistics: Provides biostatistical expertise in the planning, conduct, analysis, reporting, and grant preparation of clinical, laboratory, and populationbased studies.
Cell manipulation: The Connell and O'Reilly Families Cell Manipulation Core provides cell processing for patients enrolled on clinical research protocols. Innovative cell manipulation techniques include processing of hematopoietic stem cells, preparation of tumor vaccines, and generation of T cells for adoptive immunotherapy.
Flow cytometry: Offers immunophenotyping services, including acquisition and analysis, as well as cell sorting.
Health communication: Provides expertise in the design, development, and production of researchrelated materials for health communication, intervention, and participant recruitment.
Monoclonal antibodies: Provides consistent, economical, and high-quality monoclonal antibodies and related products and services to support basic research and clinical projects.
Medical arts: Offers complete computer and custom graphics and photography services for scientific publications and presentations. Also offers training in the use of software for graphic design.
Microarray services: Provides gene expression profiling services using oligonucleotide microarrays, as well as genomewide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis and resequencing analysis.
Molecular biology: Offers automated DNA sequencing, DNA and peptide synthesis, protein sequencing, BIAcore protein ligand assays, DNA ligand assays, and mass spectrometry analysis.
Molecular diagnostics: Provides specimen processing and tracking services, DNA sequencing, microsatellite and SNP analyses, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, and gene analysis.
Research library: The Baruj Benacerraf Library provides journals and books, interlibrary loan, database searching and training, and public access to computers.
Research pharmacy: Obtains, stores, formulates, and dispenses drugs for patients enrolled in investigational protocols; also responsible for maintaining records in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
Transgenic and gene-targeted mouse models: Holds, breeds, and cryopreserves mouse models; also provides technical support and expertise in the area of transgenic and gene-targeted mouse models.

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Technology Transfer

The goal of the Office of Research and Technology Ventures (ORTV) is to transfer the Institute's research discoveries to the commercial sector so that they can be developed into novel products for the detection and treatment of cancer and related diseases. To achieve this goal, ORTV's experienced staff, led by Vice President Anthony del Campo, develops and implements a variety of commercialization strategies and also acts as a resource to educate the DFCI scientific staff in technology-transfer issues.

ORTV's commercialization strategies include licensing DFCI's intellectual property to established biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and assisting startup ventures. ORTV is aided in this effort by and receives legal support from the Office of Patent Counsel (OPC), a division of the Office of General Counsel. OPC's mission is to protect and manage the Institute's intellectual property including patents, trademarks, and copyrights. OPC manages a diverse portfolio of over 600 active US and foreign patent applications and receives nearly 70 new invention disclosures from DFCI scientists annually. This intellectual property forms the basis for generating licensing activity with companies to permit further commercial development. With approximately 25 license agreements executed annually, DFCI's technology transfer program has generated a variety of products including therapeutics, diagnostics, and research reagents that exemplify the applicability of DFCI innovation. Together, OPC and ORTV work to leverage the intellectual capital of the Institute to facilitate the commercialization of discoveries for the benefit of patients.

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Physical Facilities

DFCI is located in the Harvard-Longwood Medical Area of Boston. It includes seven adjacent buildings, which contain approximately 1,165,000 gross square feet (g.s.f.) of space. The largest of these, the Charles A. Dana Building, was completed in 1978. It has approximately 403,000 g.s.f. and provides seven floors of research space, four-and-one half floors of outpatient clinics, two floors of clinical space and laboratories, and additional floors of administrative offices, mechanical facilities, and parking.

Adjacent to the Dana Building is the Jimmy Fund Building, which houses the Thomas A. Yawkey Research Laboratories. Constructed in 1951, it is the original structure in the complex. A total renovation of this 10-floor building was completed in 1982. The building contains approximately 101,000 g.s.f. and provides seven floors of research laboratory space, as well as computer facilities and office space.

The Michael A. Redstone Laboratories contain 20,100 g.s.f. This building was modernized and expanded in 1977 and underwent major renovations and alterations in 1990.

The Louis B. Mayer Research Laboratories, with approximately 122,000 g.s.f., were completed in April 1988. Within this building, three floors are assigned to research laboratories, offices, and support functions. The building also contains 13,600 g.s.f. of office space allocated to biostatistical research activities.

The Shields-Warren Building was acquired by DFCI from New England Deaconess Hospital in 1992. This five-story research and office building contains approximately 43,000 g.s.f. and is immediately adjacent to DFCI's main buildings. In 1999, this facility was completely renovated into clinical and administrative office space.

In December 1994, DFCI acquired an 18,300-g.s.f. building located at 454 Brookline Ave. between the Redstone Laboratories and the Mayer Laboratories. The Institute renovated the building and now utilizes it for administrative offices.

In the fall of 1997, DFCI occupied the recently completed Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Research Laboratories. The Smith Building contains 300,900 g.s.f. in 13 floors above ground and 154,650 g.s.f. in six levels below ground for a parking garage and a chiller plant. The Smith Building is linked to the Dana Building and the Jimmy Fund Building by overhead pedestrian bridges. It provides two floors for use as mechanical space and eight floors as finished research laboratory space. The remainder of the tower includes space designated for population science research and administrative and support functions.

In addition to the facilities it owns, DFCI leases space in nearby buildings. A 4,917-g.s.f. area is leased in a multipurpose facility on Longwood Avenue, adjacent to the DFCI properties, to house portions of its administrative and information functions. Two blocks away on Longwood Avenue, DFCI has leased 32,011 g.s.f. to house the communications and information systems offices, as well as a portion of its legal services. In addition, DFCI has leased 9,000 g.s.f. on Beacon Street in Brookline for some of its information systems, consulting, and fiscal service functions, as well as approximately 46,000 g.s.f. of space at 10 Brookline Place, referred to as the South Campus, which houses the development, fiscal services, and Jimmy Fund operations. Recently, the Institute leased and renovated 25,726 g.s.f of space at 21-27 Burlington Ave. and 50,318 g.s.f at 20 Overland St. This newly leased space, referred to as the North Campus, houses our molecular biology, molecular diagnostics, and monoclonal antibody core facilities at the Burlington Avenue site and the communications, information systems, and quality assurance departments, as well as the office for the protection of research subjects, at the Overland Street site.

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Summary

At DFCI, we are dedicated to discovery and committed to care. Over the past five decades, the Institute has continued to build the infrastructure, programs, and partnerships needed to conquer cancer and other diseases of the immune system. In the reports that follow, you will read about the accomplishments of our faculty and their collaborators in the laboratory and clinic. Together with the international scientific community, we are striving to understand normal cell activity and disease processes, devise prevention strategies, and develop treatments for cancer that will benefit populations worldwide. Our ultimate goal is the eradication of cancer, AIDS, and related diseases and the fear they engender.

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