University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) Professor Silvia Balbo has been named a co-investigator on a newly-funded research team supported by Cancer Grand Challenges, a leading global research initiative that tackles the toughest challenges in cancer research.
Balbo, who is also a co-leader of the Carcinogenic and Chemoprevention Program at the UMN Masonic Cancer Center, is a key part of the Cancer Grand Challenges CAUSE team, which will receive up to $25 million over five years to study the biological mechanisms behind mutational signatures—distinct patterns of DNA damage linked to cancer. The team, led by Ludmil Alexandrov at the University of California San Diego, will investigate how these signatures arise, including from internal body processes, environmental exposures, and chemotherapy-related damage, to inform cancer prevention and treatment.
Founded in 2020 by the two largest funders of cancer research in the world—Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the U.S.—Cancer Grand Challenges empowers a global community of interdisciplinary research teams to come together to conduct world-class cancer research.
Balbo’s research examines how complex exposures—such as diet, alcohol and tobacco use, the microbiome, chemotherapy drugs, and environmental contaminants—interact with cells to disrupt normal growth and contribute to cancer risk. Her work develops tools to measure these exposures and their molecular effects, with the ultimate goal of strengthening prevention strategies, identifying populations at higher risk, supporting earlier detection, and improving predictions of treatment response and outcomes.
“This is a tremendous honor, and I’m grateful to be part of such an extraordinary global team taking on one of the most important challenges in cancer research,” said Balbo. “By uncovering what drives these patterns of DNA damage, this work has the potential to inform stronger prevention strategies, identify populations at higher risk, support earlier detection, and improve how we tailor cancer treatments and predict outcomes. I am thrilled to be part of such an illustrious team to work on these areas of research.”
Balbo will join a CAUSE team that brings together researchers, advocates, and scientists with expertise in chemistry, prevention, AI, public health, and region-specific environmental exposures from seven institutions across three countries. Funded by Cancer Research UK, the National Cancer Institute, and KWF Dutch Cancer Society through Cancer Grand Challenges, the team is one of five newly announced awardees, representing a total $125 million investment.
“Cancer Grand Challenges research and breakthroughs are made possible through our co-founders and visionary partners. Thanks to their incredible $125 million funding this year, we’re able to unite exceptional research teams from across the globe to tackle the most complex problems in cancer today,” said Dr. David Scott, Director of Cancer Grand Challenges. “Together, we’re creating opportunities for bold team science that could redefine what’s possible for people affected by cancer.”
The funded teams span nine countries, 34 institutions and unite more than 42 investigators and researchers.
About Cancer Grand Challenges
Co-founded in 2020 by two of the largest funders of cancer research in the world: Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute, Cancer Grand Challenges supports a global community of diverse, world-class research teams to come together, think differently and take on some of cancer’s toughest challenges. These are the obstacles that continue to impede progress and no one scientist, institution or country will be able to solve them alone. With awards of up to $25 million, Cancer Grand Challenges teams are empowered to rise above the traditional boundaries of geography and discipline to make progress against cancer we urgently need. Cancer Grand Challenges now brings together 1,800 researchers and 21 teams from across the world to take on 18 challenges.
