In the late 1960s, a group of scientists and volunteers at UCLA came together to develop a cancer center they hoped would become renowned for excellence in research, education and patient care. Since that time, the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has become a leader in cancer research and clinical care with a vision of accelerating discoveries to prevent and cure cancer.

Today, the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of only 53 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, the highest designation possible from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The NCI recognizes centers around the country that meet rigorous standards for transdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research focused on developing new and better approaches to preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. The UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center has held the designation since 1976.

Accelerating discoveries to prevent and cure cancer

• We have over 500 scientists and physicians who conduct basic and translational cancer research and provide state-of-the-art cancer care
• We currently have over 400 active clinical trials focused on cancer care are currently enrolling patients at UCLA

Cancer center firsts

We are changing the treatment paradigms for patients with cancer. Since 2014, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has approved 18 therapies that were developed through research conducted in UCLA labs or clinical trials in UCLA clinics.

Pioneering UCLA research led to the development of the breast cancer drug Herceptin. Developed by world renowned cancer researcher Dr. Dennis Slamon, it has been prescribed to more than 2.5 million patients.

UCLA neuroscientists developed one of the first personalized vaccines for people with glioblastoma, the deadliest type of brain tumor.

In the largest Phase 1 study in the history of oncology, UCLA researchers co-developed the first-of-its-kind immunotherapy Keytruda, developed by Dr. Antoni Ribas, to successfully treat advanced melanoma.

The UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center is ranked as one of the nation’s “Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report.

Learn more

Click here to learn about some of the key moments in our history and the discoveries we’ve made that advance cancer research and treatment.