The Arizona Cancer Evolution Center (ACE) is advancing our fundamental understanding of cancer and its clinical management through the development and application of evolutionary and ecological models to cancer biology. ACE leverages a highly interdisciplinary team to understand the fundamental nature of cancer and to apply this understanding for clinical impact, including cancer prevention, and response to therapy. We use evolutionary and ecological models to study the ways in which cancer has constrained the life strategies and development of species, especially humans, and to reveal the nature and function of cancer suppression mechanisms. One of our priorities is cultivating a scientific environment that facilitates the continued development of novel methods and innovative applications of evolutionary and ecological theory to cancer at multiple time and spatial scales.