People around the globe are commemorating World Cancer Day and raising awareness about one of the leading causes of death worldwide. This year's theme, "Not Beyond Us," focuses on solutions to the problem.

At Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, researchers are showing that fundamental or basic science is fueling progress in cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention. In fact, Dr. Fadlo Khuri, Winship’s Deputy Director and Chair of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Emory School of Medicine, calls 2014 a landmark year in those areas. He says that there were at least a half dozen new approvals of improved, potent targeted therapies, chemotherapies, and immunotherapies for cancer, whose impact is most acutely felt in societies in North America, Europe, Eastern Asia, Australia and South America. Therapeutic resources have been significantly advanced by these discoveries, all of which spring from major biologic breakthroughs in the laboratory.

Khuri says on-going support for researchers in the fundamental sciences will ensure that these new discoveries will continue to substantially enhance our therapeutic and preventive arsenal against cancer. Fundamental science is vital to the global war against cancer.