The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

Timeline and Research Milestones

History of Johns Hopkins Medicine

Kimmel Cancer Center Director and Eli Kennerly Marshall, Jr. Professor of Oncology, Martin Abeloff, M.D., considers the successes of the past three decades the foundation of the excellent treatment and research taking place in the Kimmel Cancer Center today.  "In 1973, we helped define the field of oncology, today, we are helping to redefine it," he says.

"Early on, we had a unique vision of what a cancer center should be.  Its hallmarks were collaborative science and innovation.  That remains unchanged today.  It is exciting to see the number of faculty and staff that have been with us throughout much of this journey, and those who have joined us more recently, impressed by this dedication and commitment and the freedom to explore novel ideas, continue the voyage with us."

"We are leaders in the national cancer programs, our vast accomplishments have earned us widespread praise, but they also bring us great responsibility.  The rest of the cancer world looks to us for direction," Dr. Abeloff says.  "There is no question that we have a challenge before us.  We have not eliminated cancer, so we are well aware that as far as we've come, we still have a long road ahead.  Three decades ago, we could not have envisioned an outpatient bone marrow transplant, there was no concerted effort in counseling cancer patients, there was no talk of gene therapy or genetic screening tests."

While the advanced work we are doing today makes the work of more than 30 years ago look primitive, it, too, will seem primitive when we look back years from now.  "It is a continuing, ever-changing process," says Dr. Abeloff.  "As complicated and complex as this research is, so purely simple is its purpose.  It is all for the patient and we must never lose sight of that."  This purpose has remained unchanged over the years and promises to hold true in the future.