Masonic Cancer Center receives $20.4M over five years with comprehensive cancer center status renewal
Late last summer we were thrilled to announce that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) renewed its designation of the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota (MCC), as a comprehensive cancer center after a highly competitive and rigorous process. Today, we are proud to announce that the funding from this grant, called the Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), provides a total of $20.4 million over the next five years.
This is the sixth consecutive designation awarded to MCC, which is one of only two NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the state of Minnesota—the only one in the Twin Cities—and one of only 53 such centers nationwide.
In its renewal notice, the NCI cited MCC for its role in streamlining high-impact clinical trials while also deepening important community partnerships throughout Minnesota.
“All our cancer center members share one goal,” said Douglas Yee, MD, director of the Masonic Cancer Center. “We are here to reduce the burden of cancer on Minnesotans. We meet this goal through research, sharing results with our colleagues and patients, and developing new strategies designed to defeat cancer. The Masonic Cancer Center is composed of a remarkable team of experts, trainees, and staff who advance the standards of cancer prevention, care, and survivorship with local and global impact. It is always gratifying when a team of our peers agrees with the quality and scope of the work we do as happened at this renewal.”
NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers are characterized by scientific excellence and the capability to integrate a diversity of research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer. These centers play a vital role in advancing NCI’s goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from cancer.
“The NCI comprehensive cancer center designation unlocks a whole world of resources for our cancer research community,” said Aaron Schilz, MCC’s executive director for administration. “We look forward to the support this designation will continue to lend to crucial, innovative research infrastructure. This award also improves our ability to impact regional and national strategies in the fight against cancer, recruit talented clinicians and researchers, and deliver the latest cancer research discoveries to communities across the state.”
Since 1998, the Masonic Cancer Center has been recognized as an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, indicating its preeminent scientific leadership, resources, and the depth and breadth of its research in basic, clinical, population, and translational sciences.