Davids Announces New Funding Following Cancer Center’s Prestigious National Designation

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded $2,822,506 to The University of Kansas Cancer Center to support its life-saving research. Last month, after many years of work, the center was officially designated 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.

"The University of Kansas Cancer Center has long been a leader in our region for health and cancer research," said Davids. "The new NCI distinction will enable their world-class scientists to continue making inroads in cancer research, saving lives in the Third District and around the world. I want to congratulate them on this new designation and thank them for their tireless efforts."

"Thanks to the Cancer Center Support Grant, The University of Kansas Cancer Center may continue to grow its research programs and shared resources, which will lead to a better understanding of how to prevent and treat cancer more effectively," said Dr. Roy Jensen, Vice Chancellor and Director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center. "The additional funding also helps the cancer center grow and retain our team of researchers and physician-scientists, convening the brightest minds in science and medicine."

Earlier this year, Davids visited the KU Cancer Center to celebrate the passage of her funding request for a new imaging machine to advance cutting-edge cancer research and treatment in Kansas. This project was one of eight federally funded projects in the Kansas Third District successfully secured by Davids.

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.

There are 71 NCI-designated Cancer Centers in the country, 53 being Comprehensive Cancer Centers, and are recognized for their leadership and resources, as well as their breadth of research. To receive the comprehensive designation and the subsequent grant, centers are expected to develop more effective approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of cancer, contribute to the development of shared research, collaborate with other NCI-funded programs, and share research findings beneficial to the community. In its entirety, CCSGs are five-year, $13.8 million grants to support each center's research programs, shared equipment, and resources.

Federal funding for this grant was authorized by the FY2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which Davids voted to support in 2022.