Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center - HICCC

The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center was founded in 1911 as the Institute for Cancer Research. In 1972, it became an NCI-designated cancer center, and was awarded comprehensive status in 1979, a designation that it has maintained since. One of only 51 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States, the HICCC is the home for cancer research and patient care at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. It has over than 200 members across six schools at Columbia University, with more than $20 million in NCI funding and nearly $100 million in cancer grants. HICCC researchers and physicians are dedicated to understanding the complex biology behind cancer, from before it begins to its evolution and spread. They apply that knowledge to the discovery and design of innovative cancer therapies and prevention strategies that reduce the disease’s incidence and progression and improve the quality of life for all those affected.

Research at HICCC is organized into four research programs that span the continuum research from basic science to translational and clinical research and population science. The four Research Programs are: Cancer Genomics and Epigenomics, which focuses on the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that control genome stability, drive genome rearrangements and promote mutations in cancer cells; Tumor Biology and Microenvironment, which aims to understand the immunological, stromal, and cell-intrinsic mechanisms that regulate tumor initiation and cancer progression; Precision Oncology and Systems Biology, which is aims to leverage a model-based view of cancer biology to embrace the complexity of cancer mechanisms that can no longer be elucidated on a gene-by-gene basis; and Cancer Population Science, which aims to reduce the burden from cancer on a population level through conduct of observational and interventional studies that focus on primary prevention, early detection, health outcomes and the delivery of cancer care to diverse communities.

Located in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Northern Manhattan, the HICCC serves a catchment area of almost 11 million people that includes all five NYC boroughs, Westchester and Rockland counties in New York State, and Bergen County in New Jersey. Distinct features of the HICCC catchment area include a highly diverse population across race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, with significant representation of individuals who are of Hispanic ethnicity, foreign-born, and/or living below the federal poverty line. To better serve the catchment area, the HICCC Community Outreach and Engagement Office (COE) brings together a team of experienced researchers, clinicians and community health educators. Working with community stakeholders and community members, HICCC cancer patients and their families, the COE is committed to reducing the burden of cancer. They strive to understand the needs of the communities and patients served by the HICCC, and work to remove access barriers to cancer prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship services. 

The HICCC is also dedicated to training the next generation of cancer researchers, providing rigorous training in cancer research and career enhancement activities that prepare trainees from multiple disciplines for productive careers as biomedical cancer researchers or healthcare professionals.

The administrative offices of the HICCC are located on the 2nd floor of the Irving Cancer Research Center (1130 St. Nicolas Ave.). Dr. Anil K. Rustgi, MD, is the Director of the Cancer Center.

The HICCC supports and manages 10 Shared Resources which provide services that are essential to basic and translational cancer research. The shared resources include:

  1. Biomarkers
  2. Cancer Biostatistics
  3. Confocal & Specialized Microscopy
  4. Database
  5. Flow Cytometry
  6. Genetically Modified Mouse Models
  7. Genomics and High Throughput Screening
  8. Molecular Pathology
  9. Oncology Precision Therapeutics and Imaging Core (OPTIC)
  10. Proteomics and Macromolecular Crystallography

For more information, please visit HICCC's Shared Resources page.