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Southwest Oncology Group is one of the largest cancer clinical trials cooperative groups in the United States. Funded largely by research grants from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, the Group conducts clinical trials to prevent and treat cancer in adults, and to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors.
What We Do
Southwest Oncology Group studies many adult cancer types, including breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecologic, and lung cancers, as well as melanoma, myeloma, leukemia and lymphoma. Approximately 100 clinical trials are underway at any given time.
The Group's network of more than 5,000 physician-researchers practice at more than 570 institutions. Among the Southwest Oncology Group's institutions are 19 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers. Physicians must meet strict medical and ethical requirements in order to become members of Southwest Oncology Group and to conduct the Group's protocols. Among the types of medical practices represented in the Group are university teaching hospitals, community hospitals, community-based physician cooperatives and individual physician offices.
More than 6,000 cancer patients and healthy participants are enrolled each year in Group studies, and approximately 35,000 more are involved annually in ongoing clinical trials. During the last 25 years, more than 170,000 patients have directly benefited from the Group's trials, while millions more have received improved care as new standards of treatment or prevention are developed by the Group.
Click on the links to the left for a more information about the Southwest Oncology Group. More information about the Group's leadership is at our Leadership page.
Group Chair
 Laurence H. Baker, D.O., has been chair of the Southwest Oncology Group since 2005.
Dr. Baker joined SWOG in 1972 and served in several capacities through the years, including as chair of the Intergroup Sarcoma Committee and associate group chair. He is professor of internal medicine and pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor.
Dr. Baker received his osteopathy degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1966. He completed his oncology fellowship at Wayne State University in Detroit, then joined the faculty there in 1972, serving as director of the Division of Hematology and Oncology from 1982-1992. In 1987, he accepted the directorship of the Meyer L. Prentis Comprehensive Cancer Center of Metropolitan Detroit.
After joining the University of Michigan in 1994, Dr. Baker served as associate chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine. He was also deputy director and director for clinical research for the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dr. Baker's special interests include sarcoma research and new drug development. He has authored more than 220 publications, 53 books or book chapters, and 142 abstracts.
Member Institutions that are NCI-Designated Cancer Centers
Arizona Cancer Center
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
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Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Detroit, Michigan
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Cancer Research Center of Hawaii
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii
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Oregon Health and Science University Cancer Institute
Portland, Oregon
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Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of California at Irvine
Orange, California
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San Antonio Cancer Institute
University of Texas Health Science Center
San Antonio, Texas
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City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute
Duarte, California
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Stanford University
Stanford, California
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Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
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University of California Davis Cancer Center
Sacramento, California
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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle, Washington
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University of Colorado Cancer Center
University of Colorado Health Science Center
Denver, Colorado
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H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida
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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
College of Physicians & Surgeons
Columbia University
New York, New York
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University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Huntsman Cancer Institute
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
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University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Los Angeles, California
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M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas
Houston, Texas
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