The Albert Einstein Cancer Center (AECC) was among the first cancer centers on medical school campuses to be funded by the National Cancer Institute in 1972 following passage of the National Cancer Act the previous year. AECC has had continuous center funding by the National Cancer Institute since that time. The goal of AECC is to foster basic, clinical, population-based and translational research that addresses all aspects of the cancer problem. AECC members are involved in cancer-relevant research or collaborative projects with other members whose work has a cancer focus. All AECC members are supported through approved national peer-reviewed funding mechanisms. There are currently over 160 AECC members who represent eight basic science and six clinical departments.