Working to Understand Who Develops Cancer and Why
The Schiffman Lab studies pediatric hereditary cancer syndromes, with a special interest in genetic susceptibility to childhood cancers. Our research investigates molecular changes in childhood cancers, as well as the germline genetic variation that gives rise to childhood tumors. It is our goal to find out who gets cancer and why, so that we can develop ways to better predict, prevent, and treat cancer in the clinic.
Our Approach
All of our studies include the perspective of evolutionary (Darwinian) medicine, with a focus on comparative oncology to identify universal drivers of cancer risk and development. By examining the genetics of cancer in our animal relatives alongside our own, we offer a dynamic and creative approach to translational genomics. Working with collaborators from all over the country and the world, we’re able to study cancer in people, dogs, and elephants. This transdisciplinary approach continues to yield new and exciting results.
Areas of Study
p53 Studies
- p53 and Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
- Elephant p53
Ewing Sarcoma
- What Is Ewing Sarcoma?
- Genetic Predispositions for Ewing Sarcoma (Project GenESis)
- The Genetics of Ewing Sarcoma Tumors
Cancer in the Population
- Cancer Genetics Study
- Pediatric Biobank
Joshua Schiffman, MD
joshua.schiffman@hci.utah.edu
Cancer Center Bio
Contact Us
For any and all questions, or to find out how you can get involved, please email Schiffman.Research@hci.utah.edu
Affiliations
- Department of Pediatrics (Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology)
- Nuclear Control of Cell Growth and Differentiation Cancer Center Program
- Department of Oncological Sciences (adjunct)
- High Risk Pediatric Cancer Clinic (Medical Director)
- High Risk Genetics Multi-Disciplinary Group
- Neurologic Cancers Center
- Melanoma Center
- Program in Personalized Health Care (Education Director)
- Molecular Biology Graduate Program
