The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research (KI) combines the faculty of the former MIT Center for Cancer Research with a remarkably diverse and distinguished group of researchers in MIT’s School of Engineering. We’re one of only seven basic research centers in the U.S. designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and we work in collaboration with NCI, the Broad and Whitehead institutes and cancer centers across the globe.
Koch scientists concentrate their efforts on basic and applied research and through partnerships on the clinical translation of MIT discoveries into the lives of cancer patients. Researchers’ achievements to date include isolating the first human cancer genes, uncovering critical aspects of lymphocyte structure and function, discovering extracellular matrix components and their receptors, and identifying the molecules that led to two of the first FDA-approved, molecularly-targeted anti-cancer drugs, Herceptin® and Gleevec®.
Koch Institute inter-disciplinary teams are currently focused on five high-impact target areas:
-
Nanotechnology therapy
Most existing are cancer drugs toxic and dose limited. Using nanoscale particles loaded with these agents, we’re building a new class of "smart bombs" for cancer that are designed to reduce the toxicity and dramatically improve the efficacy. Nanotechnology is also being advanced to develop a new class of cancer drugs based on RNAi. Once available these new products will be able to silence cancer promoting mutations in transformative new ways.
-
Detection and monitoring
Detecting cancer saves lives. A number of new approaches are being advanced to improve the sensitivity and selectivity in detecting early stages of cancer. Advances are also being made in monitoring for the first moments of treatment relapse. One example is an implantable detection technology to monitor whether a cancer remains in remission or undergoing relapse. KI is building new clinical tools to advance cancer patient quality-of-life and potentially improve the treatment outcome.
-
Metastasis
Nine out of 10 cancer-related deaths are due to the clinical consequence of metastasis. KI researchers are identifying the genes that enable metastatic spread and the pathways that allow cancer cells to survive and thrive in distinct tissues. These advances seek to empower new ways to block the lethal consequence of metastasis.
-
Cancer pathways and drug resistance
Every cancer is molecularly unique. Using genomic and proteomic analyses, computational modeling, and functional testing in sophisticated animal models, KI investigators are uncovering the key pathways that allow cancer cells to evade treatment; paving the way to personalizing treatment.
-
Immunological engineering
Everyday our immune systems prevent damaged cells from expanding in number and only when this surveillance system fails do cancer emerge. KI immunologists and biological engineers are exploring how tumors evade immune recognition to develop new diagnostics, and more effective treatments that harness or engineering the immune system.
When completed in December of 2010 the new The Koch Institute facility will bring biologists and engineers together in a 180,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art research complex; a new nexus for the MIT, Cambridge, and greater Boston oncology research communities. This uniquely collaborative environment will also be home to the Swanson Biotechnology Center (SBC) which will provides advanced technical services such as next-gen genomic sequencing, flow cytometry, micro-array analysis, histology, advanced imaging and preclinical cancer models to MIT research community and their collaborators.
