During the last decade there has been a fast growth in the number of treatment options for patients with a large number of cancers. However, patients and their family caregivers suffer considerable physical and emotional distress throughout the trajectory of the disease from the moment of diagnosis to survivorship stage or end of life. Unfortunately, academic palliative care programs are a minority within cancer programs and universities. As a result, the progress in our understanding on the best modalities for the assessment and management of physical and emotional distress has not developed at the same pace as treatment for the cancer. This presentation will discuss ways in which cancer programs can and should integrate research into the clinical care of patients and support for their family caregivers. By development research-driven supportive and palliative care programs cancer centers and universities have a unique opportunity to change the body of knowledge in the very important area of patient centered care.