Cancer Research at Boston University
Special Series: How Boston University Is Fighting Cancer—Stories of Determination, Innovation, Hope
Every day, thousands of people in the US are diagnosed with cancer. At BU, researchers are revolutionizing prevention, treatment, and care to extend—and save—their lives.
Millions of Americans are diagnosed with cancer every year and around 40 percent of us will develop cancer in our lifetimes, according to the National Cancer Institute. In 2025, more than 600,000 people in the United States are estimated to have died of the disease. For women, the most likely diagnosis is breast cancer; for men, prostate cancer. Lung, colon, and pancreatic cancers are among the most fatal.
In labs, clinics, and classrooms across Boston University’s Charles River and Medical Campuses, researchers, clinicians, staff, and students are fighting back against these and many other forms of cancer. They are transforming the lives of people with the disease—pioneering new tests and treatments, expanding care to underserved communities, and helping patients find hope as they face their toughest ordeal.
In this special series from The Brink, we show how BU cancer research is already being used to save lives. We meet people benefiting from BU’s patient and survivor support programs, offer advice for helping a loved one through a diagnosis, share a glimpse of future treatment advances, and hear a leading clinician’s moving personal story fueling her mission to take on cancer.
And there’s a message of inspiration from a cancer survivor and Boston University alum: the dynamic Joy Huber (MET’18), who says—with a mixture of relief, pride, and passion—“science saved my life.”
In this series
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Chapter 1 “Science Saved My Life”: Cancer Survivor and BU Alum Joy Huber on Why Research Matters
Listen: Diagnosed with cancer as a young adult, Huber tells her story of endurance, survival, hope, and happiness
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Chapter 2 With New Technology and Innovative Treatments, BU Cancer Research Is Saving Lives
Boston University researchers are leading the fight against cancer with tests that detect the disease earlier, effective medicines that extend patients’ lives, and other breakthroughs that help more people get lifesaving care
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Chapter 3 Living with Cancer: How BU Programs Help Patients, Students Stay Resilient in the Face of a Life-Changing Diagnosis
From support groups to a scholarship for patients and survivors, Boston University provides aid during uncertain times
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Chapter 4 Video: Her Grandmother’s Brain Tumor Treatment Inspired This BU Doctor’s Career
BU and BMC radiation oncologist Minh T. Truong is on a mission to balance science and humanity in cancer care
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Chapter 5 How to Help Someone After a Cancer Diagnosis
What to say, and not say, when a friend, child, or family member receives the difficult news
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Chapter 6 10 Ways BU Researchers Could Revolutionize Cancer Care
Researchers across Boston University are working on innovative and potentially lifesaving projects that could transform cancer prevention, treatment, and care. We picked 10 that bring hope for the future.