Cancer Center History

The Brooklyn College Cancer Center (BCCC) was formally approved by the CUNY Board of Trustees in November 2019 and launched in September 2020. With a generous seed grant of $250,000 from the Brooklyn College Foundation, the center was established to enhance cancer care and research with a special focus on Brooklyn’s diverse communities. Over additional $200,000 generous donations from individual donors have supported the center’s mission to date.

Founding Leadership

  • Professor Maria Contel, Ph.D., Director and Research Area Leader (until 2025)
  • Professor Jennifer Basil, Ph.D., Vice Director (until 2025)

Founding Leadership

  • Professor Maria Contel, Ph.D., Director and Research Area Leader (until 2025)
  • Professor Jennifer Basil, Ph.D., Vice Director (until 2025)

Research and Academic Contributions

Faculty from across Brooklyn College work with BCCC on cancer-related research across three main areas: cancer biology and biochemistry, drug development and delivery, and patient-oriented research.

Notable research achievements

  • Publication of dozens of articles
  • Issuance of patents
  • Several federal grants awarded

The center has hosted over 50 scientific seminars and multiple symposia, including the Brooklyn Breast Cancer Symposium and the Brooklyn Colorectal Cancer Symposium. These events have featured speakers from prestigious institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, SUNY Downstate, Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center, and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Educational Initiatives

The center has developed robust educational programs, including:

  • The Stacey & Michael Garil Summer Research Internship Program, supporting undergraduate research
  • Medical interpretation training in partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Physician shadowing programs with Maimonides Health and Memorial Medical Care
  • Lay Health Navigator training with Tisch Cancer Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine
  • Career seminars and workshops on cancer research and public health

Community Outreach and Partnerships

Community engagement is central to the center’s mission, and we have partnered with over 30 organizations, including:

  • American Cancer Society
  • Arthur Ashe Institute
  • Haitian Community Coalition
  • Maimonides Health
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Mixteca Organization
  • Tisch Cancer Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Selected Outreach

  • Health and wellness fairs
  • Cancer prevention workshops in English and Spanish
  • HPV awareness campaigns
  • Free mammogram events
  • Educational panels on cancer disparities
  • The center also launched a Brooklyn Health Map, a data dashboard highlighting health disparities across Brooklyn neighborhoods.

Funding and Sustainability

Notable grants include:

  • $2.6 million grant from the American Cancer Society’s Supporting Cancer Research at Brooklyn College Cancer Center (2023-2026)
  • $120,000 grant supplement from the American Cancer Society’s Supporting Cancer Research at Brooklyn College Cancer Center: ACS-BCCC-CURE Summer Internships for Undergraduate Students (2024-2026)
  • $300,000 grant from the Gray Foundation to support cancer research and outreach (2023-2025)

These grants support pilot research projects, postdoctoral and master’s fellowships, undergraduate internships, and mentoring initiatives. Additional funds have been raised through philanthropy and Giving Tuesday campaigns.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, BCCC plans to:

  • Offer educational programs
  • Involve student participation in research and clinical training
  • Host seminars and symposia
  • Fundraise for infrastructure and internships
  • Promote the transition from lab bench to business for cancer treatment innovations

Contact Us

2900 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: bccc-cure@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000

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