In 1981, the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, the Cancer Center received its National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designation.

The Foundation, established in 1976 and now known as the Burnham Institute, was founded by William (Bill) H. Fishman, M.D., Ph.D., and his wife Lillian Fishman, M.Ed. Located in San Diego, the Institute was originally focused on oncodevelopment — the study of developmental biology in conjunction with oncology, as a means to better understand the elusive and deadly nature of cancer.

In 1979, the NCI awarded the Foundation with a two-year grant that allowed it to move and expand facilities onto the Torrey Pines Mesa. That same year Fishman recruited Erkki Ruoslahti, MD, PhD, a renowned cancer researcher, to join the Foundation as scientific director.