Mission Statement

"We have created an environment in which academic discovery flourishes and is shared with a larger community interested in the prevention and treatment of this deadly disease,"
~Dr. Franklin G. Berger, Director

The Center for Colon Cancer Research (CCCR) was originally established in 2002 by the National Institutes of Health Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant totaling $11 million dollars over 5 years. Entering it's last year, the CCCR applied for a competitive renewal and in August 2007 was awarded $10.7 million over 5 years through 2012. The COBRE grant was provided with the expressed purpose of providing new investigators with the guidance, financial support and front-line research technologies they need to make the break through discoveries that will lead to improved methods for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer. CCCR is the first of its kind in South Carolina and is a driving force leading the development of innovative and groundbreaking research in colorectal cancer. By providing state-of-the-art technology, senior faculty mentors, and an infrastructure that offers multiple opportunities for academic and professional growth, it is the aim of CCCR to foster the progression of young scientists into independent investigators supported by peer-reviewed grants.

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in the US, with about 150,000 new cases and 56,000 deaths occurring annually.The American Cancer Society predicts that 2,370 new cases and 880 deaths due to colorectal cancer will occur in South Carolina in 2006.

As a research center at the University of South Carolina, CCCR encourages collaboration amongst a critical mass of junior and senior investigators with common interests across disciplines, from public health to microbiology. COBRE centers are expected to grow through the promotion of collaborative interactive efforts among researchers with complementary backgrounds, skills, and expertise. Assisting the young and talented researches to compete independently for external peer-reviewed grant support. CCCR research projects are supported by our core facilities:

• Mouse Core
• Biometry Core
• Pathology Core
• Histology and Imaging Core
• Administrative Core

The CCCR's comprehensive approach, establishes a strong infrastructure for our team of researchers who are focused on new insights into the nature of colorectal cancer and stimulating the development of more effective strategies for prevention and treatment of the disease.