CPMC investigators are active in participating in various types of cancer research (including clinical trials, clinical research, and laboratory-based research) conducted through the CPMC Research Institute (CPMCRI). CPMCRI oversees a robust clinical trials portfolio, especially in the following focus areas: GI, GU, and GYN oncology, melanoma, breast, and lung cancer. CPMC is part of the Sutter Health Research Consortium (PDF), which is an active member of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG). CPMC investigators serve on the melanoma and lung cancer committees within SWOG.

Fellows are encouraged to participate in cancer-related research during the fellowship program, and encouraged to develop their own research projects under faculty supervision. Fellows will learn to design clinical trials, conduct trials and analyze and report results. They are encouraged to participate and submit abstracts to national/international meeting(s) and manuscripts to peer-reviewed journal(s) during the fellowship program.

Fellows may also take advantage of basic science research opportunities. CPMCRI includes a number of basic and translational research investigators engaged in cancer research, with a major focus on melanoma, glioblastoma, and breast cancer. The Cancer Avatar Project is a unique program within the CPMCRI, comprising CPMC’s precision medicine program, involved in developing personalized treatment approaches (using patient-derived xenograft models) for patients with eight different types of aggressive malignancies.