Facts and Figures
Driving innovation in cancer research and care.
Changing the Course of Cancer Research
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Leading the Way in Cellular Therapy
MCW researchers developed and tested the world's first CAR T-cell therapy designed to target both CD19 and CD20, giving cancer fewer ways to escape treatment. Manufactured onsite at MCW, the therapy marked a major advance in cellular immunotherapy. Investigators continue developing new treatments for blood cancers and exploring engineered cell therapies for solid tumors.
Read about the world's first -
Redefining Precision Cancer Treatment
MCW researchers are challenging traditional approaches to cancer treatment by demonstrating how even closely related KRAS mutations respond differently to therapy. Through the Rare Cancer and Precision Medicine Clinic, innovative clinical trials and the Cancer Sequencing Initiative, investigators are using genetic discoveries to match treatments to each patient's cancer.
Read about the KRAS discovery -
Challenging Long-Held Assumptions About Cancer
MCW researchers are expanding how cancer disparities are studied, linking historical discrimination, neighborhood conditions and access to care with cancer outcomes today. From landmark research on mortgage lending discrimination to geospatial studies examining differences across communities, this work is identifying factors beyond cancer biology that contribute to disparities.
Read the landmark research -
Changing Transplant Care Worldwide
For more than five decades, MCW's leadership in the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) has helped transform blood and marrow transplantation. Global research collaborations have improved transplant safety, expanded treatment options and contributed to a historic Medicare coverage change, influencing transplant practices and access to care worldwide.
See the national impact
About the MCW Cancer Center
Explore the research, clinical expertise and community initiatives that distinguish the MCW Cancer Center, along with the people, programs and investments driving progress against cancer.
Investing in the Future of Cancer Discovery
The Michels Center for Cancer Discovery is eastern Wisconsin’s first and only facility dedicated exclusively to cancer research. Opened in 2025, the 161,000-square-foot center marks a major investment in scientific discovery. A historic $27 million gift from the Michels family, the largest personal gift in MCW Cancer Center history, is helping attract leading scientists, accelerate precision oncology research and expand access to innovative treatments and clinical trials.
From the Gut to the Genome: Kudek Lab Engineers Better Treatments for Children with Cancer
Guided by science and collaboration, Dr. Matthew Kudek is driven to transform complex immune responses into solutions that protect children long after cancer is gone.
Drugging the Undruggable: McFall Lab Unlocks New Treatments for KRAS-Driven Cancers
By challenging assumptions about how certain KRAS mutations function, the McFall Lab is uncovering new ways to treat some of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers.
MCW Cancer Investigators Play Key Role in FDA Approval of First T-Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors
Approved for adults with aggressive synovial sarcoma, afami-cel provides a novel treatment approach for this challenging cancer. The Center plans to be the first in Wisconsin to offer it to patients.
Innovative Neuroimaging Technique Could Improve Outcomes for Patients with Glioblastoma
An innovative approach known as radiopathomic mapping combines advanced imaging technology with artificial intelligence to provide a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of how tumors evolve over time, leading to better, more targeted treatments for patients.
Patient Navigation Program Improves Access to Life-Saving Clinical Trials
In a significant stride towards inclusivity in cancer care, the MCW Cancer Center has launched a new program to improve clinical trial access in underserved communities.