Since 2004, UT Health San Antonio, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute’s (GCCRI) mission has been to advance scientific knowledge relevant to childhood cancer, contribute to the understanding of causes of childhood cancer, and accelerate the translation of knowledge into novel therapies. Through discovery, development, and dissemination of new scientific knowledge, GCCRI strives to have a national and global impact on the problem of childhood cancer. Our mission consists of three key areas — research, clinical and education.

RESEARCH: Areas of our research that have been our strengths include cancer genomics and microRNA biology. We are developing expertise in drug delivery, with a focus on nano-technology driven delivery of microRNA mimics and antagomiRs, which will be further developed in the coming year.

CLINICAL: We interact with members of the UT Health San Antonio, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology to provide support for clinical research, banking of clinical specimens, and annotation of such specimens to facilitate patient-oriented research. Our clinical mission includes performing research that translates into clinical care, Greehey CCRI supports infrastructure for human subjects’ research and investigator-initiated trials in pediatric cancer. Since much of research in pediatric cancer includes participation in cooperative group trials, Greehey CCRI supports the involvement of investigators in Children’s Oncology Group participation.

EDUCATION: The educational mission of the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute is to train the next generation of researchers in pediatric cancer research. This includes creating a pipeline of trainees through our program for undergraduates engaged in summer research, medical students within the MD with Distinction in Research program, fellows in the ACGME-approved hematology-oncology fellowship program, as well as the traditional graduate programs in Cancer Biology and other relevant areas.