UNMC Eppley Cancer Center Earns Clinical Cancer Center
Designation
The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Eppley Cancer Center has
earned the clinical cancer center designation from the National Cancer
Institute (NCI). This designation recognizes that the UNMC Eppley
Cancer Center has strong cancer research programs in both basic sciences
as well as clinical research on cancer patients.
In conjunction with the new designation, the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center
also received a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS), which will provide support for the cancer center’s
core functions over the next four years.
“I applaud HHS in its recognition of the Eppley Cancer Center and UNMC’s
efforts to become a leader in cancer research,” said Sen. Chuck Hagel,
whose office made the announcement Wednesday.
“This is a major milestone for the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center,” said
Kenneth H. Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.
“We’ve been an NCI-designated cancer center since 1983 and have worked
extremely hard to become a clinical cancer center. This is a tremendous
accomplishment, and the entire state should be proud to have a cancer research
center of this quality.”
The NCI Cancer Centers Program supports nearly 60 NCI-designated cancer
centers nationwide. These are major academic and research institutions
involved in broad-based, coordinated, interdisciplinary cancer research
programs.
There are three types of cancer centers based on the degree of specialization
of their research activities: cancer center (basic science), clinical cancer
center (basic and clinical research) and comprehensive cancer center (basic
and clinical research with prevention, control and population-based
research). With the new designation, the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center
becomes one of only 14 clinical cancer centers in the country. There are
about 10 cancer centers and 35 comprehensive cancer centers.
“Translational research (research involving patients) is the key to
winning the battle against cancer,” Dr. Cowan said. “While work in the
laboratory is crucial to developing new insights into cancer treatment,
these insights must be confirmed in clinical trials.
“Our vision for the cancer center is to further enhance the interactions
between laboratory research and clinical research, so we can hasten the
translation of research discoveries into treatment options for patients.
This upgraded designation and funding should help make our vision for the
cancer center a reality.”
Although pleased with reaching clinical cancer center status, Dr. Cowan
said he hopes the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center will eventually become a comprehensive
cancer center. “This is our ultimate goal, and I’m confident we can reach
it. We want to continue to move forward. It’s a major step, but with
the combined strength of UNMC and NHS, we think we have the resources to
get it accomplished. I’m optimistic we can move to the next level within
the next five years.”