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About us

Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research (SCCR) is a joint effort between the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg and the Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SU). SCCR is a cancer center focusing on translational cancer research, with the patient as a focal point. The long-term goal of the center is to improve the care of cancer patients by facilitating new scientific discoveries and translating these into clinical practice.

Cancer - a strategic research area

The center was formed in 2010 as an effect of cancer being designated a strategic research area at the University of Gothenburg, as well as being part of the government-supported strategic research program BioCARE.

It was together with colleagues at Lund University that cancer researchers in Gothenburg were awarded this research program, which the Swedish government had announced as a strategic initiative. Combined with co-financing from the vice-chancellor at University of Gothenburg, these funds then became the basis for the establishment of Sahlgrenska Cancer Center (now called Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research).

The overall aim of the program was to promote research and education of highest international standard and to facilitate the translation of acquired knowledge to society with health care and industry as the natural partners.

Göran Stenman served as the director of the center from its inception until the middle of 2018, when instead Jonas Nilsson took over this position. When Jonas was given the opportunity to start a new research laboratory in Perth, Australia, the center needed a new director. This time, in February 2020, Mikael Nilsson accepted to take on this role.

From 1st of July 2020 Sahlgrenska Cancer Center officially changed its name to Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research. This change took place, since a center with the name Sahlgrenska Cancer Center was formed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital as part of the accreditation process for the hospital to become a Comprehensive Cancer Center. This process reached its goal on the 13th of May 2002, when the hospital's cancer center turned into the accredited Sahlgrenska Comprehensive Cancer Centre (SCCC).

Translational cancer research with the patient in focus

Here at Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research (SCCR) we focus our research with the patient in mind. This is to provide the cancer patient with a better care in the future than in today’s society. Through a close collaboration with the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, we at the center are trying to find new methods and treatments, which can later be tested and applied directly within the cancer care.

Our research groups work widely

Today our 30 research groups work in a wide spectrum of cancer related research questions, but they all have translational cancer research as a common denominator. Example of areas which are studied are brain cancers, lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, radiotherapy, prostate cancer and leukaemia.

Other research areas at the centre are also epigenetics, ovarian and cervical cancer, sarcoma, neuroendocrine and thyroid cancers, pancreatic cancer and salivary gland tumors. The research is in some cases used for developing diagnostic and prognostic tools, which in the longer term can improve the cancer care and ensure that the right treatments are being used.

Overbridging post graduate studies

Through the Cancer Research South (CARES) School we at Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research also provide courses within cancer research. As for our work, these courses are overbridging research and clinical work as well.

CARES is a graduate research school which offers courses to PhD Students at University of Gothenburg and Lund University. These two universities were both part of the previous strategic program BioCARE, which until its cancellation at the end of 2019 was also host for the Cancer Research South (CARES) School. This responsibility was instead taken over by the newly established Lund University Cancer Centre (LUCC) in 2020.

An important hub for cancer research

Today the Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research is an important hub within cancer research, with actively research engaged clinicians from several areas, such as surgery, pathology, oncology, gynecology and urology.

Over the years the collaboration with the clinics at Sahlgrenska University Hospital has developed very well and has meant an attractive research environment for many to consider, not least for top researchers within the cancer field. The conditions for cancer research in Gothenburg has therefore improved significantly compared to the time prior to the founding of the center. The grants from the Swedish Cancer Society have for example both increased and become larger in recent years.

Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research (then Sahlgrenska Cancer Center) also got top marks in the evaluation from the Swedish Cancer Society, when they made an on-site visit three years after the center’s establishment.

In May 2019 the Gothenburg Cancer Meeting was also held for the first time. An event created by SCCR as a venue for interaction between Gothenburg cancer researchers.

GCM2019 - A rewarding first cancer conference

Positive effect on research results

The establishment of Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research (former Sahlgrenska Cancer Center) has also had a very positive effect on the research results. The researchers of SCCR have for instance made a series of important and in some cases groundbreaking discoveries that have benefited cancer patients.

New biomarkers for faster and safer diagnosis and prognoses are examples of this as well as new target molecules, which can be used for future development of new cancer treatment. Innovative clinical trials, with cancer patients from Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SU) and elsewhere, have also been initiated and carried on by a couple of the center’s research teams.