The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of eight agencies that compose the Public Health Service (PHS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The NCI, established under the National Cancer Act of 1937, is the Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research and training. The National Cancer Act of 1971 broadened the scope and responsibilities of the NCI and created the National Cancer Program. Over the years, legislative amendments have maintained the NCI authorities and responsibilities and added new information dissemination mandates as well as a requirement to assess the incorporation of state-of-the-art cancer treatments into clinical practice.

Today, UCLA´s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) has established an international reputation for developing new cancer therapies, providing the best in experimental and traditional treatments, and expertly guiding and training the next generation of medical researchers. With a membership of more than 230 physicians and scientists, the Jonsson Cancer Center handles more than 20,000 patient visits per year and conducts hundreds of clinical trials, providing the latest in experimental cancer treatments.

The Institute for Systems Biology was co-founded in 2000 by Alan Aderem, Ruedi Aebersold, and Leroy Hood. In just five years it has grown to more than 170 staff members, including 11 faculty members and their laboratory groups. This pioneering approach to the study of biological systems takes place in the institute's 65,000-square-foot facility in Seattle.