
The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a cancer research and treatment centre in Boston. It has been recognised as one of the best hospitals for cancer care for 23 consecutive years by US News and World Report. Dana-Farber has been at the forefront of cancer breakthroughs for over 75 years and its specialists treat a wide range of cancers. The centre is also known for its compassionate, patient-centred care, with a focus on tailoring treatment to the individual. Dana-Farber has recently announced plans to build a new inpatient cancer hospital, which has sparked some debate among healthcare experts. With its innovative approach to cancer care and impressive track record, one may wonder if Dana-Farber is, indeed, the best cancer hospital.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ranking | Ranked #6 cancer hospital in the US as of 2024. Ranked #5 in 2023-2024. Ranked #1 in New England in 2023-2024. |
| History | Founded in 1947 as the Children's Cancer Research Foundation (CCRF). Renamed the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 1983 in recognition of philanthropist Charles A. Dana's support. |
| Breakthroughs | First in the world to attain temporary remissions of acute lymphocytic leukemia in 1947. Boosted cure rates for Wilms' tumor from 40% to 85% in 1954. Developed a new treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia in 1976. |
| Research | Conducted more than 1,000 clinical trials. |
| Teaching | Teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School. |
| Staff | Employs more than 4,855 full-time and part-time workers, including 529 faculty. |
| Revenue | Annual gross revenues of about $1,733,386,000. |
| Patient Visits | More than 523,425 adult and pediatric patient visits per year. |
| Partners | Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. |
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What You'll Learn

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: history and background
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute was founded in 1947 by Sidney Farber, MD, a pediatric pathologist. The following year, in 1948, the Jimmy Fund was established in Boston to support Dr Farber's groundbreaking cancer research and care. The Jimmy Fund was adopted by the Boston Red Sox as its official charity in 1953, marking the beginning of the longest and most successful charity and sports team partnership in history.
In 1947, Farber led a team of researchers who were the first in the world to attain temporary remissions of acute lymphocytic leukemia, the most common cancer in children, using aminopterin. In 1954, Farber and his colleagues achieved the first remissions of Wilms' tumor, a common form of childhood cancer, and boosted cure rates from 40% to 85%.
In 1962, philanthropist Charles A. Dana, through the Dana Foundation, began financially supporting the Children's Cancer Research Foundation (CCRF). The Dana Building was opened in 1975, and in 1976, researchers at the Sidney Farber Cancer Center (now Dana-Farber) developed a new treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia.
In 1983, the organization's name was changed to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in recognition of the foundation's support. Today, Dana-Farber is a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, a federally designated Center for AIDS Research, and a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, a federally designated comprehensive cancer center.
The institute employs more than 5,000 staff, faculty, and clinicians, supporting more than 640,000 annual outpatient visits and over 1,000 hospital discharges per year. It is internationally renowned for its equal commitment to cutting-edge research and excellent patient care, and its researchers have contributed to the development of 35 of the 75 cancer drugs recently approved by the FDA for use in cancer patients.
Dana-Farber has been recognised as one of the top cancer care facilities in the US, ranked the 5th best cancer hospital by U.S. News & World Report and 6th best in the US as of 2024.
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Dana-Farber's ranking among cancer hospitals
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a cancer research and treatment centre located in Boston. It has been recognised as one of the best hospitals for cancer care in the US for 23 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. In 2024, it was ranked the #6 cancer hospital in the US, and in 2023-2024, it was ranked #5 in the nation. Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center was also ranked #1 in New England for cancer care.
Dana-Farber has a long history of breakthroughs in cancer care and research. It has led the way in cancer breakthroughs for over 75 years, with discoveries made by its researchers becoming tomorrow's breakthrough treatments. The centre treats all kinds of cancer and provides personalised care for each patient based on their unique needs. It has 13 specialised disease treatment centres dedicated to providing individualised care for different types of cancer. Dana-Farber's doctors are leading practitioners in their cancer specialties, including medical and radiation oncologists and cancer surgeons.
Dana-Farber is supported by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and private foundations and individual contributions. It is a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of the Dana–Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), a research consortium that is one of the 39 federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Dana-Farber also conducts community-based programs in cancer prevention, detection, and control in New England and maintains joint programs with other Boston institutions.
In 2023, Dana-Farber announced a new partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and plans to build a new standalone 300-bed inpatient cancer hospital focused on treating adult cancer patients. This expansion will allow Dana-Farber to provide both specialty cancer treatment and primary care under one system, increasing convenience for patients. However, experts have expressed concerns about the potential impact of this expansion on smaller hospitals, which rely on cancer patients for essential revenue.
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Dana-Farber's treatment approach and specialities
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the only cancer hospital in the US to be ranked in the top 5 for both adult and pediatric oncology care. Dana-Farber has a long history of breakthrough discoveries in cancer care and research, and its clinicians have deep experience treating all types of cancer. The institute is recognised by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top five cancer centres.
The Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center is a partnership between Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women's Hospital, which has been recognised among U.S. News & World Report's top cancer care facilities for 23 consecutive years. Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center provides personalised, multidisciplinary cancer care. The centre is known for its clinical innovations, including emerging cellular therapies, immuno-oncology in preoperative settings, and adaptive radiation therapy.
Dana-Farber is a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), a research consortium that is one of the 39 federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The institute conducts community-based programs in cancer prevention, detection, and control in New England, and maintains joint programs with other Boston institutions, including St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dana-Farber's treatment approach is focused on providing personalised care for each patient's unique healthcare needs, lifestyle, and goals. The institute is committed to a unique balance of cancer care and research, translating discoveries into new therapies for patients worldwide. Dana-Farber has led the way in cancer breakthroughs for over 75 years, and its researchers are dedicated to both cancer research and delivering compassionate, patient-centred care.
Dana-Farber's specialities include cancer prevention, detection, and control. The institute has expertise in various cancer types, including colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and prostate cancer. Dana-Farber is also involved in research and treatment advancements for other types of cancer, such as aggressive stage III non-small cell lung cancer and advanced HER2-positive breast cancer.
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Dana-Farber's partnerships and affiliations
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has a long history of breakthroughs and discoveries in cancer care and research. It has been ranked the sixth-best cancer hospital in the US, with two Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine among its past and present faculty. The institute has various partnerships and affiliations that have contributed to its success.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Dana-Farber has had a long-time affiliation with Brigham and Women's Hospital, which has been recognised as one of the top cancer care facilities by US News & World Report for 23 consecutive years. Together, they established the Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Centre, which provides adult cancer care. The centre is known for its clinical innovations, including emerging cellular therapies, immuno-oncology, and adaptive radiation therapy.
Harvard University
Dana-Farber has strong ties with Harvard University, particularly with the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Medical School, and four of its affiliated hospitals: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital. Together, they formed the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), a research consortium that is one of the 39 federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. DF/HCC researchers have access to extensive resources and collaborate on research, cancer prevention, and new treatments to improve outcomes for cancer patients.
Boston Children's Hospital
Dana-Farber has a longstanding collaboration with Boston Children's Hospital, providing outpatient care for children at the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Boston Children's Hospital offers inpatient care and paediatric subspecialty care. This partnership has contributed to breakthroughs in paediatric cancer research and treatment.
Strategic Alliances
Dana-Farber also pursues Strategic Alliances, which are unbranded and customizable relationships tailored to meet the needs of its collaborators. These alliances focus on providing specialised services and enhancing clinical excellence in cancer care delivery. Services offered through these alliances include virtual consultations, physician mentorship, program development assistance, and access to select research and clinical trials.
Community Providers
Dana-Farber works with various community providers to expand access to clinical trials, education, and programmatic support. The institute aims to build lasting relationships and improve clinical care for all patients through these partnerships.
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Dana-Farber's future plans and vision
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has been at the forefront of blending exceptional cancer care with leading-edge, transformative science since 1947. Their vision for the future of cancer care involves a new dedicated inpatient cancer hospital and a transformative clinical collaboration.
The proposed Future Cancer Hospital, owned and operated by Dana-Farber, will be the only independent cancer hospital in the region. It will have 300 beds to meet the growing incidence of cancer and ensure timely access to care. The hospital will be focused exclusively on cancer and cancer patients, with people, facility design, resources, technology, and data collection all centred around oncology.
Dana-Farber's new collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), a Harvard-affiliated academic medical centre, and its affiliated physician group, Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians (HMFP), will provide cancer patients with integrated cancer care in an environment focused solely on cancer. This collaboration will pair Dana-Farber's singular focus on cancer and clinical leadership with the world-class expertise of BIDMC and its HMS-affiliated faculty physicians.
Dana-Farber's future plans also include a departure from their longtime affiliation with Brigham and Women's Hospital, which has been recognised as one of the top cancer care facilities in the US. Instead, they will build on their foundation of world-class care and continue to be a leader in patient care, medical education, and research, with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery.
With a patient-centred approach, Dana-Farber aims to provide the best care for cancer patients for years to come, building on their 75-year history of breakthroughs in cancer research and treatment.
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Frequently asked questions
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has been ranked the fifth best cancer hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. It has also been recognised as the best hospital for cancer care in New England. The institute has a long history of breakthrough discoveries in cancer care and research.
In 1947, Sidney Farber and his team of researchers were the first in the world to attain temporary remissions of acute lymphocytic leukemia, the most common cancer in children, using aminopterin. In 1954, Farber and his colleagues achieved the first remissions of Wilms' tumor, a common form of childhood cancer, and boosted cure rates from 40% to 85%.
Dana-Farber has announced a new partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and plans to build a new standalone 300-bed inpatient cancer hospital focused on treating adult cancer patients. The new hospital is expected to open in 2028.

































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