The Program of Molecular Pharmacology and Cancer Therapeutics offers graduate students the opportunity to study a range of topics in cancer biology and cancer therapeutics at the molecular, cellular and biochemical levels. The program is located on the campus of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in downtown Buffalo, New York. It is composed of 28 faculty members and has a current enrollment of 24 predoctoral students. As such, it constitutes the nation's largest pharmacology graduate program devoted entirely to cancer. Students of the Molecular Pharmacology and Cancer Therapeutics program have the opportunity to study basic research problems related to fundamental differences between normal and cancer cells, molecular mechanisms involved in the control of cell growth, cell cycle progression, and differentiation, the cellular effects of newly designed compounds and their potential as anticancer agents in experimental systems, the mode of action of currently useful anticancer drugs, the interaction of anticancer agents with the host immune system, and mechanisms by which malignant cells become resistant to anticancer agents.

The program generally requires 32 credit hours of course work consisting of core requirements in pharmacology, cancer therapeutics, oncology, and biochemistry, while allowing for specialization in such areas as molecular biology, cellular biology, and immunology. Courses are taught by faculty located at both RPCI and at the North and South Campuses of the State University of New York at Buffalo. Following the completion of the formal didactic coursework, each student must complete a written and oral preliminary examination. The format of the exam involves the preparation and defense of an NIH RO1-style grant proposal in an area of cancer research outside of the student's own research project. After passing the preliminary exam in the 2nd year of study, the student advances to Ph.D. candidacy. In the third year of study, students prepare a thesis project proposal and assemble a thesis committee led by their major advisor. Generally in the 5th year of study, after at least 32 credit hours of independent laboratory research, the student defends an original Ph.D. thesis. Degrees are awarded through the State University of New York at Buffalo Roswell Park Graduate Division. Ph.D. graduates of the program are highly competitive for research and faculty positions at universities, biomedical research centers, and the pharmaceutical industry.