Cancer Chemical Biology, Ph.D. at University of South Florida

The Cancer Chemical Biology Major consists of focused training in Cancer Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Students will also receive interdisciplinary training in the broader field of chemistry & biology through coursework and immersion in the Moffitt Cancer Center’s research endeavors. Cancer drug design and discovery will be the key component of the curriculum. The research focuses are (1) design and synthesis of chemical probes to modulate oncogenic targets and pathways, and development of selective chemical probes into novel anticancer drug candidates; and (2) to identify, validate, and characterize targets with therapeutic relevance in refractory and metastatic malignancies.

This Major will provide students a unique foundation of knowledge and practical experience in the rapidly advancing arena of cancer chemical biology. Students will also train alongside individuals studying other areas of cancer biology, providing a unique opportunity to study in a multidisciplinary and highly translational research environment. Graduates of this major will be positioned to enter the technological workforce ready to discover novel probes to unravel the mechanisms underlying oncogenesis and develop innovative anticancer drugs.

The Major is a joint endeavor between the Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida. Moffitt Cancer Center is located on the campus of the University of South Florida and is a leading institution of basic research, clinical research, and patient treatment with a focused mission “to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.” The Moffitt Cancer Center is officially designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.