CSI-Cancer: USC Michelson Center Convergent Science Institute in Cancer

What CSI-Cancer: USC Michelson Center Convergent Science Institute in Cancer does

CSI-Cancer (USC Michelson Center Convergent Science Institute in Cancer) is an academic research institute within the University of Southern California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with approximately 40 staff. The institute applies a convergent-science framework that integrates patient data, model-system data, and high-content single-cell data with advanced machine learning to translate clinically observed correlations into mechanistic understanding of cancer dynamics across cellular, human, and population scales. Its research portfolio comprises five active programs: Liquid Biopsy (analyzing circulating tumor cells and large extracellular vesicles), Math Oncology (mathematical modeling of cancer dynamics), Digital Health (technology-enabled cancer care), USC INTERCEPT (a blood-based first-line breast cancer screening program intended to complement or substitute for mammography), and CURE (cancer research training).

The institute is led by Dr. Peter Kuhn, who in 2024 was appointed University Professor across five USC departments (Biological Sciences, Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering, and Urology) and named to the Class of 2024 of the National Academy of Inventors Senior Members. CSI-Cancer leads the DoD-funded Convergent Science Cancer Consortium (CSCC), collaborating with Cedars-Sinai, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and Stanford University to build research infrastructure addressing gaps in cancer care. The institute is a non-profit entity that does not publicly disclose revenue or pricing; its operations are funded primarily through federal grants such as the DoD award, with research participation offered on a voluntary enrollment basis (e.g., the JOIN INTERCEPT breast cancer screening program). Geographic scope is concentrated in California, USA, with dissemination via academic publications, conferences, and institutional collaborations rather than commercial distribution channels.

Name

CSI-Cancer: USC Michelson Center Convergent Science Institute in Cancer

Legal name

University of Southern California

Website

https://kuhn.usc.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CSI-Cancer is a non-profit academic research institute within USC Dornsife that applies convergent science — integrating patient, model-system, and high-content single-cell data with advanced machine learning — to understand cancer dynamics, operating programs in liquid biopsy, mathematical oncology, digital health, blood-based breast cancer screening (USC INTERCEPT), and research training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Cancer Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Oncology Diagnostics (tumor profiling, MRD, liquid biopsy) (HLAAALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multiplex & High-Throughput Diagnostics Platforms (microarrays, digital PCR, lab automation-enabled assays) (HLAAALAL), Oncology Pathways & Precision Medicine Decision Support (HLACAGAH), Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Cancer research institute
• Liquid biopsy analysis
• Mathematical oncology
• Early cancer detection
• Convergent science research

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CSI-Cancer is an academic research institute that conducts convergent science cancer research by integrating patient data, model systems, and high-content single-cell data with advanced machine learning to translate clinical correlations into mechanistic understanding of cancer dynamics. Its work spans five interconnected programs: Liquid Biopsy, Math Oncology, Digital Health, USC INTERCEPT (early detection of breast cancer via blood draw), and CURE (research training). The institute operates as part of the USC Michelson Center and leads the DoD-funded Convergent Science Cancer Consortium.

Product overview

CSI-Cancer is a convergent science research institute at USC Michelson Center focused on solving cancer through interdisciplinary research. The institute operates as a unified research organization comprising multiple interconnected programs: Liquid Biopsy (analyzing circulating tumor cells), Math Oncology (mathematical modeling of cancer dynamics), Digital Health (technology-enabled cancer care), USC INTERCEPT (early breast cancer detection via blood testing), and CURE (training program). The institute integrates patient data, model systems, and single cell data with machine learning to understand physical and biological underpinnings of cancer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liquid Biopsy Research Program
• Math Oncology Research Program
• Digital Health Research Program
• USC INTERCEPT Early Detection Breast Cancer Screening
• CURE Cancer Research Training Program
• Convergent Science Cancer Consortium (CSCC)

Quantifiable outcome

• Research demonstrating that circulating tumor cells and large extracellular vesicles acquire immune markers through direct contact with white blood cells
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Recent moves3 records

Emerging players

• Natera: Commercial molecular diagnostics company with oncology and liquid biopsy products (e.g., Signatera MRD test). Overlaps technically with CSI-Cancer's CTC analysis and single-cell oncology work, though it operates as a commercial diagnostics business rather than a research institute.
• Guardant Health: Commercial liquid biopsy company using blood-based assays for oncology applications including tumor profiling and minimal residual disease. Comparable technical approach to CSI-Cancer's liquid biopsy program, but operating in a commercial, FDA-regulated context rather than academic research.
• GRAIL: Commercial company developing blood-based multi-cancer early-detection tests such as Galleri. Closest commercial analog to CSI-Cancer's INTERCEPT breast cancer screening program and a key reference competitor for blood-based cancer screening.

Direct peers

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Harvard-affiliated academic cancer research institute conducting laboratory and translational oncology research. Directly comparable as a non-profit research organization competing for grants, talent, and publication impact in cancer biology.
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles: Pediatric academic medical center explicitly named as a CSCC consortium collaborator. Peer in the convergent-science consortium model and in access to patient cohorts that inform cancer research.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: Academic research center focused on cancer biology, immunology, and translational science with a hybrid non-profit/biotech commercialization model. Similar operating model and research mission to CSI-Cancer.
• Stanford Cancer Institute: Stanford University-based academic cancer research program explicitly named as a collaborator on the CSCC consortium. Direct peer in scope, research intensity, and translational orientation.
• Cedars-Sinai Cancer: Academic medical center cancer program explicitly named as a CSCC consortium collaborator. Comparable as a research-performing cancer center with overlapping translational interests and LA-region clinical research footprint.

Broad incumbents

• MD Anderson Cancer Center: One of the largest NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers, spanning basic, translational, and clinical research. A broader incumbent operating across the full oncology spectrum compared with CSI-Cancer's focused research-institute structure.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Large comprehensive cancer center with deep R&D and clinical translation programs. Operates broadly across the oncology space rather than specializing in CSI-Cancer's convergent-science niche, but competes for the same federal grants, talent, and translational partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uscmichelsoncsi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usc-michelson-center-csicancer
• Instagraminstagram.com/uscmichelsoncsicancer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CSI-Cancer: USC Michelson Center Convergent Science Institute in Cancer