Four major initiatives have been identified; each of them represents a large-scale effort that will help accelerate research synergy, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. The missions of these initiatives are:

• To create biomarkers that can help increase prevention and early detection.
• To promote drug discovery and accelerate the time it takes to make new drugs available.
• To identify disparities in outcomes and in quality of care in underserved communities and populations, with the goal of accelerating delivery of new therapies and preventive measures.
• To advance new scientific methods and technologies.

These initiatives will require major investment. They will be financed originally from philanthropy, but over time they should be supported by sustained research funding. Each initiative will provide cross-institutional support and further enhance the Center's multidisciplinary approach.