Transforming Cancer Research and Care: The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s Impact
January 14, 2025
The University of Kansas Cancer Center is on a mission to change the landscape of cancer care. Through groundbreaking research, innovative treatments and comprehensive patient support, the organization aims to transform how cancer is experienced and treated.
A Regional Leader with Global Impact
As an anchor for regional cancer research, the cancer center makes significant contributions to the area’s healthcare and economy:
- Research is projected to generate $2.6 billion for the regional economy from 2007-2028.
- Since 2010, more than 42,000 individuals have participated in clinical trials that advanced treatments and saved lives.
- The cancer center team includes more than 180 disease-specific oncologists and 350 clinicians and researchers, forming the area’s most robust cancer care program.
- More than 360 open clinical trials are enrolling patients at more than 180 locations.
Pioneering Tomorrow’s Treatments
From prevention to survivorship, the cancer center’s clinical trials provide access to the latest therapies – often years before they become widely available – offering hope and improved outcomes through the most advanced cancer care options. JCERT helps fund the University of Kansas Clinical Research Center, where the cancer center conducts its pioneering clinical trials.
The Significance of NCI Comprehensive Designation
As one of fewer than 60 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers nationwide and the only one in our region, The University of Kansas Cancer Center has earned a reputation for excellence. This elite status reflects rigorous standards for transdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research focused on developing new and better approaches to preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. Patients treated at NCI-designated centers have a 25% higher survival rate compared to those treated elsewhere, and the comprehensive designation positions the cancer center as a leader in the fight against cancer.
Why Research is Critical
Cancer research is at the heart of every life-saving breakthrough. With 9.6 million cancer-related deaths worldwide each year, research is essential to improving survival and quality of life. The KU Cancer Center and other NCI-designated centers have played a pivotal role in nearly every major advancement in cancer treatment. The cancer center’s ongoing research will continue to benefit the region through greater access to new discoveries and novel treatments.
