UNMC History 101 – Happy 50th Eppley Institute!

The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases — or simply the Eppley Institute as it’s commonly called on campus — celebrates its 50th anniversary this week.

In this photo from 1960, Dr. Henry Lemon, first director of the Eppley Institute, points at the large engraving that is still on the front of the Eppley Institute building. The instute building was under construction when this photo was shot.

Founded with funds from the Eugene C. Eppley Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the University of Nebraska, the institute has for half-a-century been a place where researchers work to understand cancer and improve its diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

The institute was initially part of the College of Medicine but in 1972, it became an independent research institute that fell under the jurisdiction of the UNMC chancellor.

Today the institute employs 31 faculty members who conduct cutting-edge basic and translational cancer research.