About us

The Department of Cancer Sciences brings together researchers, clinicians and educators committed to improving cancer outcomes for Aotearoa and communities worldwide. Our mission is to deliver research with impact across the full continuum of cancer sciences, while developing the next generation of researchers, clinicians, policy leaders, and innovators.

We are building on a special and significant partnership between Cancer Society Auckland Northland and the University of Auckland. From its beginnings in 1956 as a community-funded cancer research initiative, the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre grew into an internationally recognised leader in cancer discovery and drug development. The Department of Cancer Sciences is the next chapter in this story.

Our research and teaching will span the breadth of cancer sciences to generate new knowledge and translate it into real-world impact. We are committed to addressing inequities in cancer outcomes so that the benefits of research reach all communities.

Our vision is a department that provides research and teaching within a comprehensive cancer centre for Aotearoa New Zealand – co-located with clinical care and community partners.