The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has named the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute as the nation’s 73rd designated cancer center. The distinction places the institute in the top four percent of all cancer centers in the United States. Wilmot is New York state’s largest and busiest cancer center outside of New York City, treating more than 45,000 patients a year.
With this designation, Wilmot joins an elite class of centers that have been through a rigorous evaluation process and selected to be at the forefront of research, community engagement, education and training, and life-saving care in the United States. NCI designation comes with $10 million in funding over five years to expand patient access to clinical trials and develop new research initiatives.
The achievement follows an in-depth review by NCI experts from around the country and signifies the highest level of documented excellence in cancer research, patient care, and community outreach.
Wilmot is the only cancer center serving a unique and diverse part of New York – more than three million people across 27 counties in the western and central part of the state – plagued by high cancer rates and challenges related to an aging population, poverty, and vast rural areas, which can impede access to care.
The NCI recognizes that Wilmot can meet the challenges of delivering superb care to this region while also conducting research that leads to cutting-edge clinical trials and other innovations. Wilmot patients will have access to the newest technology and clinical trials that are only available at NCI-Designated Cancer Centers. The NCI funding over five years also supports community outreach geared toward cancer prevention, awareness, and improving access to cancer services, with a focus on underserved areas across upstate New York.
“This designation is the result of years of dedication by our team at Wilmot, with invaluable support from the University, medical center, and our community,” says Jonathan Friedberg, director of the Wilmot Cancer Institute. “It marks an extraordinary milestone in the history of the cancer center at the University of Rochester, and we take great pride in what it means for our patients. But this is not a finish line – it’s a new beginning. We are committed to leverage this designation toward continued growth, increasing clinical trial availability for our patients, and ultimately decrease suffering from cancer throughout our region.”
In a press conference on March 19, Friedberg, University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf, University of Rochester Medical Center CEO David Linehan, and Congressman Joseph Morelle (D, NY-25) marked the historic day. City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, and representatives for several state and federal elected officials were also in attendance to celebrate Wilmot and this new NCI designation.
“This is a great day for the University of Rochester and the Wilmot Cancer Institute,” says President Mangelsdorf. “Investing in Wilmot has been a University priority for more than a decade, because we know how much cancer impacts the people in our region. This couldn’t have happened without the strong bipartisan support and efforts from our Congressional delegation. I want to thank Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Joe Morelle for their leadership and Senator Gillibrand, Representative Langworthy, and Representative Tenney for their strong support.
“We are so proud that Wilmot has been recognized for its effort in revitalizing the way we treat cancer, under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan Friedberg. Today we celebrate as we head down a new path to removing the burden of cancer in our community.”
Ever better cancer research and care
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training. The NCI leads, conducts, and supports cancer research across the nation to advance scientific knowledge and help all people live longer, healthier lives. Created in 1971, the NCI Cancer Centers Program is one of the anchors of the nation’s cancer research effort and is an innovation engine for US cancer research progress.
The University of Rochester and the Wilmot Cancer Institute began their years-long effort to gain NCI-Designation when Friedberg became director in 2013. Under his leadership, Wilmot enhanced its entire clinical research infrastructure and expanded Wilmot’s footprint in the region to include 13 care locations, including its main campus, located at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
More recently, Wilmot’s leaders have recruited several first-class cancer researchers and clinicians, established a vibrant community network, and reorganized the institutes research programs, culminating in a focused effort to quickly move laboratory investigations into studies that benefit patients. Due to an elite level of talent and an environment that encourages researchers and clinicians to work together, NCI-Designated Cancer Centers are uniquely structured to address complex patient needs.
“We couldn’t be prouder that Wilmot has been recognized as one of the top cancer centers in the nation and having the bipartisan support of our state and federal delegation was crucial in solidifying this designation,” says Linehan. “Team science is a hallmark of Wilmot Cancer Institute and the University of Rochester Medical Center, bringing together doctors and scientists to answer the unmet needs of our patients by improving patient care with research.”
In bipartisan letters of support for Wilmot, elected officials at the federal and state levels, including Governor Hochul and the New York State Senate and Assembly, emphasized the institute’s merits for designation, including enhanced public health benefit and significant economic impact for the region.
Wilmot’s reputation has long been celebrated at the national and international level – for leadership in writing new guidelines for cancer care, for clinical studies that change practice, and for research that has contributed to two of the top five advances in care during the past 50 years: the HPV vaccine and anti-nausea treatments.
NCI designation is primarily a research award, called a Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG). Wilmot’s CCSG program includes more than 100 scientists who work areas across three broad research programs: cancer prevention and control; cancer microenvironment; and cancer genetics, epigenetics, and metabolism. The grant also dedicates resources for the education and training of future cancer researchers, clinical trial development, shared resources, and community outreach.
With NCI designation, Wilmot embarks on a new beginning as a nationally recognized destination for cancer research and care. Future plans include building new facilities, launching a new drug-development program, and expanding networks in the 27-county region that extends north to Oswego, south to the Pennsylvania state line, and east to Albany.
Congressman Joe Morelle said. “The Wilmot Cancer Institute’s designation as a National Cancer Institute is an historic achievement – one that cements its place among the nation’s premier cancer research and treatment centers. This recognition is not just about a title; it is a testament to the relentless dedication of the doctors, researchers, and caregivers who bring hope to families in their most challenging moments. It is deeply moving to see the team that cared for my daughter, Lauren – and so many other families like ours – receive this nationally-recognized symbol of excellence. I’m grateful to the many partners whose advocacy helped make this a reality, and most importantly, to the dedicated team at Wilmot fighting tirelessly for a cancer-free future.”
Learn more at http://nci.urmc.edu/.
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