Tumors are like new organs, says Mina J. Bissell, and are made of multiple cell types and components. Before they can grow, they must compete with the microenvironment to overcome anti-tumorigenic pressures.

Dr. Bissell will review how normal tissue homeostasis and architecture inhibit progression of cancer in a free public lecture entitled “Why don’t we get more cancer?” Tuesday, September 13, at 7 p.m. in room 200, Toldo Health Education Centre.

Distinguished scientist in the life sciences division of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, she is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of Chemistry. She has received the American Cancer Society’s Medal of Honor and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Jill Rose Award for distinguished biomedical research.

Tuesday’s talk is presented by the Faculty of Science as part of its Doyle Lecture Series.