Creating a cancer drug typically takes years of research and testing. Cancer patients deserve better.

The TRACTION team deploys a comprehensive approach that includes disruptive technologies, cutting-edge disease modeling and enhanced data analytics to accelerate the pace of drug development and inform clinical translation. TRACTION unites industry-seasoned professionals with highly successful academic scientists forming cross-functional teams all working toward a singular goal – bringing our patients new, highly effective options. These teams are organized into three groups:

• Discovery & Innovation: Employing advanced technology platforms and data analytics to evaluate new therapeutic concepts and opportunities that feed our drug discovery pipeline
• Target Biology: Executing fundamental mechanistic studies on therapeutic targets to gain a deep understanding of underlying biology to guide development from concept to clinic
• Translational Biology: Supporting drug development through state-of-the-art disease modeling, in vivo pharmacology and biomarker development capabilities

TRACTION functions as a translational-research hub at MD Anderson, promoting relationships across the institution to support highly innovative science aimed at addressing unmet clinical needs. TRACTION also engages with biopharmaceutical companies to build meaningful collaborations that align with institutional strengths and have the potential to bring impactful new therapies to MD Anderson patients.

Through this multidisciplinary approach, TRACTION fosters team science that spans basic, translational and clinical science disciplines, where expertise across MD Anderson is leveraged to drive innovation around programs with the best chance of catalyzing transformative advances.