PhD in Cancer Biology in Madison United States | University of Wisconsin-Madison

The cancer biology graduate program provides a curriculum and research path culminating in a PhD. While master's degrees are available in exceptional cases, the program does not accept applicants solely pursuing a master's.

Founded in 1940 at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, this was the nation's first graduate program dedicated to fundamental cancer research. Today, it boasts over 50 faculty members across various departments such as Oncology, Medicine, Human Oncology, Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Medical Microbiology and Immunology. This cross-disciplinary framework enables students to access exceptionally wide-ranging training opportunities encompassing all aspects of cancer biology - from genetic studies (haploid and diploid) to viral/chemical carcinogenesis, cellular/molecular biology, virology, toxicology, and whole-organism cancer studies. The curriculum immerses students in knowledge gained from direct cancer research (including its causes, characteristics, and treatments) while equipping them with skills for autonomous investigation.