January 09, 2023
The University of Kansas Cancer Center was awarded $43 million through the federal spending bill, which President Joe Biden signed into law on December 29, 2022.
The allocation will help the cancer center plan and build a 670,000-square-foot research facility at the University of Kansas Medical Center campus. A centralized cancer research building on the main KU Medical Center campus will unite people across all scientific disciplines under one roof to support collaboration. Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, who serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, secured the funding.
“KU Cancer Center is dedicated to continuing to advance cancer care for all patients in the region. A critical component of this will be the construction of a new destination cancer center housing clinicians, researchers and support services in one location to provide cutting-edge care, clinical trials and support for our patients,” said Jeffrey Holzbeierlein, MD, physician in chief of the cancer center and William L. Valk endowed professor and chair of urology at KU Medical Center. “The federal funding helps jumpstart the process of moving this transformational goal forward. The recent achievement of comprehensive cancer center status from the National Cancer Institute and the efforts of Senator Moran were critical to receiving this funding.”
From 2007 through 2022, it is estimated that The University of Kansas Cancer Center contributed $2.3 billion to the region's economy through its research activities. A new cancer research facility will secure the region’s position as a powerhouse of biomedical research excellence.
“This is one of the largest investments our institution has ever received directly from the government, and it comes on the heels of our new comprehensive designation from the National Cancer Institute,” said Roy Jensen, MD, vice chancellor and director of the cancer center. “Thanks to Senator Moran, we can capitalize on our momentum and move closer to building a 21st-century cancer facility that will set a new standard for cancer research and care in our region.”