What is National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation?

The NCI designates major U.S. academic and research institutions characterized by scientific excellence and ability to integrate a diversity of cancer research approaches.

NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center is the highest standard of achievement of its kind.

Currently, NCI has designated 22 Cancer Centers and 39 Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

Why is it important to achieve NCI designation?

It addresses a regional problem: Kansas City is one of the largest metro areas without an NCI-designated Cancer Center.

It enables more advanced cancer care and access to cutting-edge clinical trials.

It changes perception of close-to-home care, increasing the number of cancer patients staying in the region for advanced care.

It expands the research enterprise and supports the metropolitan area’s goal of achieving $500 million in annual research expenditures.

It is expected to generate as much as $1.36 billion annually in economic growth and creates 9,400 direct and indirect jobs in year 10.

Why is the University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) an excellent candidate for NCI designation?

The KUCC’s researchers receive more than $4.12 million annually from NCI. It’s been recommended that $8 million in annual NCI funding be secured prior to applying for NCI designation, meaning KUCC is already half way to this goal.

The KUCC is achieving excellence in key cancer research areas including breast, gastrointestinal, prostate, and lung.

The KUCC aims to achieve NCI designation in the context of greater efforts to expand the life sciences base in the state of Kansas and the Heartland Region.

The population of the region is underserved by NCI-designated centers and the cancer mortality rates here are decreasing at only half the national average, making this imperative.

What differentiates the KUCC’s approach from other cancer centers?

The KUCC’s community-based partnership model leverages regional assets in oncology and embodies the most current thinking in the battle to cure cancer – the President’s Panel on Cancer.

The KUCC’s partnerships with the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and the KU School of Pharmacy make its goal of becoming the leading developer of Phase I oncology agents realistic.

The KUCC’s commitment to the discovery of novel compounds and therapies and the commercialization of those opportunities, is evident in the establishment of the Office of Therapeutics, Discovery and Development and the recruitment of industry leader, Scott Weir, PharmD, PhD.

Why are we confident we will be successful?

The KUCC is committed to achieving NCI designation via a partnership and community-based approach.

There is a strong regional commitment to KUCC’s quest for NCI designation:

– The University of Kansas has made achieving NCI designation its #1 priority.
– An annual $5 million appropriation from the state of Kansas.
– The Stowers Institute for Medical Research will fund its investigators to serve as leaders and faculty in the KUCC.
– The Kansas Masonic Foundation has pledged $15 million to support research efforts of the KUCC. +