The central mission of the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research is twofold:

  1. To pursue outstanding research programs directed toward understanding the causes and biology of cancer and the factors that regulate normal and neoplastic growth and differentiation.
  2. To provide training of the highest quality in basic cancer research at the graduate and postdoctoral levels.

While these two goals represent the cornerstone of our activities, we also seek to provide undergraduates and medical students with a foundation in basic cancer biology and to serve the public and scientific community through our activities for national and international organizations. You can see more on our training and instruction here.

During the past 75 years, more than 1800 women and men have received pre- and post-doctoral training at McArdle. Many of these alumni now hold faculty positions at universities throughout the United States and abroad, and most of the others are doing research at research institutes or in government or industry laboratories.

The current staff of the McArdle Laboratory numbers approximately 200. The 27 faculty and emeritus faculty lead 22 research groups that include 68 graduate students, 31 postdoctoral fellows, and 45 research specialists or other academic staff. Other members of the laboratory include the administrative and support personnel and many undergraduates who perform both research and support activities.

Recent News

  • Night of Hope February 9th 2026

    On February 9th, Verona Area High School Staff and Saturn’s 8 DJs hosted a raffle and trivia night at The Seminole Tap in Fitchburg.  All proceeds benefit the UW McArdle Lab for Cancer Research toward …

  • Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Nobel laureate Howard Temin

    On Sep. 12, 2025 the scientific community celebrated the 50th Anniversary Temin Nobel Prize Symposium hosted by the McArdle Laboratory at the UW–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in partnership with the UW Carbone Cancer Center and the Morgridge Institute for …

  • McArdle Student Organizes Goodman Center Thanksgiving Basket Food Drive

    For Johannsen lab graduate student Lily Wenger (Cancer Biology Graduate Program), it has always been important to give back to the community. Working with a friend, Katie Strother, and with support from fellow graduate students …

  • McArdle Trainee Seminar Prize Winner Announced

    Every year, the McArdle Lab makes awards for the best trainee presenters of research presentations, in two categories: 1) Junior (first two years of graduate work) and 2) Senior (3+ years of graduate work).  Our …

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