Cancer Biotherapy Research Group

The Cancer Biotherapy Research Group (CBRG), formerly the National Biotherapy Study Group (NBSG), was a non-profit clinical research organization that pioneered the development of biological therapies for cancer. Founded in the mid-1980s by Dr. Robert K. Oldham and Dr. Robert O. Dillman, the group operated as a network of community-based oncologists conducting multi-center clinical trials. Its research focused on 'biotherapy'—now known as immunotherapy—including the use of cytokines like interleukin-2, monoclonal antibodies, and personalized autologous cancer vaccines. CBRG played a significant role in bridging the gap between academic research and community oncology, facilitating early-stage trials for innovative immuno-oncology treatments before they became standard of care. While the group is no longer active as a standalone entity, its legacy continues through the advancement of patient-specific cancer treatments and the establishment of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) by its founders.