About Us - Why Aging & Cancer Research

Aging is the strongest known risk factor for cancer.

As we grow older, our cells accumulate damage, biological systems change, and the body becomes more vulnerable to disease. Understanding how aging drives cancer is essential to improving prevention, detection, and treatment.

At the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer, we focus on this connection to unlock new possibilities for healthier, longer lives.

The Link Between Aging and Cancer

Over time, genetic mutations, weakened repair mechanisms, and altered cellular behavior increase the likelihood of cancer. These changes do not happen overnight—they build slowly across decades.

By studying aging itself, researchers can better understand why cancer develops later in life and how to intervene before disease takes hold.

This knowledge shifts the focus from reacting to cancer to preventing it.

From Prevention to Early Detection

When cancer is detected early, outcomes improve dramatically. Aging and cancer research helps identify early biological signals—known as biomarkers—that may indicate disease long before symptoms appear.

These insights can lead to:

More effective screening tools

Earlier interventions

Reduced treatment intensity

Better long-term outcomes

Prevention and early detection are among the most powerful ways to save lives.

Advancing Smarter, Personalized Treatment

Every patient is different. Aging affects how the body responds to disease and treatment, yet many therapies are still developed without fully accounting for this reality.

By understanding age-related biological processes, researchers can design more precise, personalized therapies—targeting the underlying mechanisms that drive cancer.

This approach supports the future of precision medicine: treatments tailored to each individual’s biology, genetics, and stage of life.

Supporting Healthy Longevity

Our goal is not only to help people live longer—but to help them live better.

Aging and cancer research contributes to extending healthspan: the years of life spent in good physical and cognitive health. By delaying disease and strengthening resilience, this work promotes independence, dignity, and quality of life as people age.

As populations grow older worldwide, this research becomes increasingly essential.

Improving Patient Outcomes

Older adults remain underrepresented in many clinical studies, leading to gaps in knowledge and less effective treatments.

Focused research helps ensure that therapies are developed with aging populations in mind—resulting in safer, more appropriate, and more equitable care for all patients.

No one should be left behind because of age.

A Global Impact

Cancer carries a significant human and economic cost. Through better prevention, earlier diagnosis, and more effective treatment, aging and cancer research can reduce long-term healthcare burdens worldwide.

Investing in this work benefits patients, families, communities, and healthcare systems alike.

Our Commitment

At the Waxman Institute, we support innovative, collaborative research that explores how aging shapes cancer risk and outcomes.

By bringing together leading scientists and institutions, we are working to transform understanding into action—and discovery into impact.