Why become the 64th NCI-designated center? Why did Stanford University and Baylor College of Medicine want to be the 62nd and 63rd NCI-designated Cancer Centers? Because, it is the highest recognition for an academic cancer center, drives growth in research funding and related economic benefits and jobs, and brings the most advanced cancer care to patients.
With NCI designation, our region will achieve a new level of excellence as a bioscience research center and more fully leverage the research investments made by the University of Kansas and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.
NCI designation drives growth across many related segments of the regional economy. Based on 10-year financial projections developed by the Perryman Group (Texas) in 2005, the University of Kansas Cancer Center will grow from $43 to $80 million in federal research grant funding annually. That research base will propel related construction activities, operations, licensing revenues and cancer mortality reductions equal to more than $1.3 billion in overall annual benefits, and as many as 9,400 permanent jobs in 10 years.
Few other regional initiatives have as much potential to simultaneously drive economic development and public health as achieving NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center at KU.
Most importantly, NCI designation at KU means Kansans will not have to travel out of state to find the most advanced care and clinical trials. They will be available close to home.
We aren’t stopping with becoming the 64th NCI designated center. This designation is merely a point in our journey to ultimately eliminate cancer.
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The University of Kansas Medical Center