Davids Announces Federal Grants for University of Kansas Cancer Center
Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded two grants totaling $1,197,968 to the University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) to advance cancer treatment, cause, and prevention research. Last week, Davids also announced multiple federal grants to boost medical research capabilities at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC).
“The University of Kansas Cancer Center is critical for the health and wellbeing of folks in our state and beyond,” said Davids. “As the only NCI-designated cancer center in our region, the University of Kansas’ center ensures Kansas families can stay close to their loved ones while they receive world-class care. I’m glad I could help bring these resources home to Kansas, where they’ll help boost cancer research and treatment.”
The two grants awarded to the University of Kansas Cancer Center will be used for:
- Cancer Treatment Research – $614,361
- The federal resources will be used to reduce post-operative complications from the surgical treatment of advanced bladder cancer. Specifically, researchers will seek to better understand how increased nutrition supports the immune system, reduces infections, and preserves muscle.
- Cancer Cause and Prevention Research – $583,607
- The federal resources will support a new five-year study to increase the screening, treatment, and follow-up care of cervical cancer in Kenya. This study builds on a decade of research between KUMC and multiple research partners in Kenya to improve patient outcomes and reduce health disparities in low resource and rural settings.
“The funding crucial to see this work to completion,” said Dr. Jill Hamilton-Reeves, Associate Professor, Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Cancer Center. “We anticipate enrolling the final few patients by this fall, this specific grant funds the work to dive deeper into the science at the bench with patient samples guided by word renowned experts in immunology, metabolism, and microbiology.”
“These federal research funds will allow us to evaluate low-cost strategies to increase cervical cancer screening and support treatment completion in rural and low-resource settings to improve patient outcomes,” said Dr. Sarah Kessler,PhD, MPH, University of Kansas Cancer Center. “We are extremely grateful for this investment and opportunity.”
Background:
The University of Kansas Cancer Center has nearly 350 researchers and 150 disease-specific oncologists. They conduct all phases of cancer research, from laboratory studies to clinical trials to population-based studies that address environmental and behavioral factors that contribute to cancer. Research operations have already contributed an estimated $2.5 billion in economic impact to the region since 2007 when the center began working toward NCI designation in earnest.
In 2022, Davids received a Director's Award from The University of Kansas Cancer Center. The award, given during the cancer center's annual research week, recognizes a legislator who has contributed significantly to the cancer center's mission. Davids worked to secure federal funding for a new cancer imaging machine to advance cutting-edge cancer research and treatment at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Davids also celebrated the cancer center's new, prestigious designation as a "Comprehensive" cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This is the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI and is the gold standard for cancer centers.