Our Mission: To drive transformational research, personalized therapy, family-centered care, and cancer policy in the nation's capital.
Established in 2015, the GW Cancer Center brings together the strength of the George Washington University, GW Hospital, and the GW Medical Faculty Associates to accelerate progress in the fight against cancer. By uniting all cancer-related activities across GW, the Center advances a bold vision: a cancer-free world driven by discovery, education, and equitable access to care.
Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., the GW Cancer Center offers a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary model that breaks down silos between research, education, and clinical care. This integrated approach fuels innovation, accelerates discovery, and ensures patients benefit from the collective expertise of leaders across disciplines.
At GW, we diagnose and treat every type of cancer, delivering personalized care that reflects the latest scientific advances. Patients have access to leading-edge therapies, clinical trials, and advanced technologies — paired with world-class service in a compassionate, welcoming environment. Our goal is simple: to provide the highest standard of cancer care while continuously pushing what’s possible in treatment and outcomes.
As an academic medical center, we have clinicians who are also scientists — nationally and internationally recognized researchers who translate laboratory discoveries directly into patient care. Through three robust research programs, Cancer Biology and Immunology, Clinical and Translational Oncology, and Cancer Control and Health Equity, GW investigators are driving breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and risk reduction.
Education is a cornerstone of our mission. The GW Cancer Center offers a comprehensive portfolio of research education and career development programs designed to train the next generation of scientists, clinicians, and public health leaders. From medicine and nursing to public health, engineering, and health sciences, our programs prepare learners to lead across the cancer continuum.
A major milestone in this work is the launch of the GW Cancer Prevention and Wellness Center, a community-rooted hub dedicated to reducing cancer risk before it starts. Located in Ward 8, the Center focuses on prevention, early detection, survivorship, and lifestyle-based interventions, bringing evidence-based wellness programs, education, and research directly into the community. This Center reflects GW’s commitment to meeting people where they are and to expanding access to prevention and supportive services that can improve long-term health outcomes.
Equity is woven into everything we do. The GW Cancer Center is deeply committed to addressing cancer disparities and ensuring that research and care are responsive to community needs. Through partnerships across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, we work alongside communities to expand access to screening, clinical trials, and innovative interventions — advancing health equity at every level of our enterprise.