DF BWH Cancer Center

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), a 777-bed teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is recognized internationally for its excellence in patient care and biomedical research, and for its commitment to training physicians and researchers. BWH formed in 1980 with the merger of three of Boston’s prestigious Harvard teaching hospitals: Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Robert Breck Brigham Hospital, and Boston Hospital for Women. Cancer care is provided to adult patients by multidisciplinary teams of cancer experts who work closely together in the Dana-Faber/Brigham Cancer Center (DF/BWCC).  The DF/BWCC is an inter-institutional collaboration between BWH and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which integrates the combined strengths of two leaders in cancer treatment and research to offer patients the latest therapies and innovative clinical trials through 13 specialized disease centers.

In 2005, the BWH Biomedical Research Institute Center for Cancer Research was established with the mission to promote excellence in basic and translational cancer research at BWH; to foster the interdisciplinary interactions that are necessary to solve central questions pertaining to cancer pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment; to determine the impact of cancer and its treatment on patient quality-of-life; and to communicate these advances. BWH researchers have a well-deserved reputation for excellence in basic science and translational cancer research.  The cancer-related research funding portfolio totaled over $88 million in FY2008, which includes two DF/HCC SPOREs (Ovarian and Skin) led by BWH investigators. The BWH also is the site of the Nurses Health Study phases I and II and the Physicians Health Study; programs that are among the world’s largest investigations into risk factors for major diseases including cancer.