Cancer Center Support Grant

The mission of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) is to eradicate cancer through innovative and collaborative research, evidence-based prevention strategies, outstanding patient care, comprehensive education, and strong engagement with the communities we serve. Upon his arrival in March 2021 as Director, Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD, articulated a vision for the Center that emphasizes advancing the translation of scientific discovery to improve cancer outcomes. To support this vision, UCCCC launched a Strategic Plan aimed at establishing the Center as a global leader in excellence across cancer care, research, and discovery—all in pursuit of eradicating cancer. The plan is organized around cross-cutting themes that include the bidirectional translation of cancer science across the laboratory, clinical, and patient care settings; the advancement of transdisciplinary research programs; and efforts to reduce the cancer burden within the catchment area and beyond. The 193 members of the UCCCC are organized into 4 Research Programs: Immunology and Cancer, Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer, and Cancer Prevention and Control. They are supported by 10 Shared Resources and 18 multidisciplinary Disease Teams. Notable accomplishments during the 2018–2022 funding cycle include: (1) Creating a new AD position focused on Shared Resources; (2) Recruiting 68 highly qualified researchers (45 new to the University of Chicago); (3) Expanding the Offices for Community Outreach and Engagement, Cancer Research Training and Education, Clinical Protocol and Data Management, and Protocol Review and Monitoring Systems; (4) Publishing 3,108 scientific articles 35% of which in high-impact (≥10) journals; (5) securing $55.4M peer-reviewed funding, with $31.0M from the NCI; (6) Achieving a 15% increase in accruals to interventional clinical trials, with 34% of enrollees from populations with limited access within the catchment area in calendar year 2022; and (7) Developing 51 new Investigator Initiated Trials (out of a total of 86 actively open), and 45 FDA INDs; (8) Launching several major initiatives including a unique scientific collaboration between UCCCC and Argonne National Laboratory. The Center is a full member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, the Children’s Oncology Group and participates in NRG Oncology studies as a LAPS main member. The aims of UCCCC in the next funding period are to: (1) Catalyze and conduct innovative, collaborative cancer research; (2) Accelerate the translation of UCCCC member discoveries; (3) Reduce cancer incidence and mortality in the catchment area by expanding access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for patients across a range of demographic and clinical backgrounds; (4) Promote excellence in education, training, and mentorship; and (5) Foster a high-performing, collaborative research environment aligned with institutional values and operational excellence. Institutional commitment for the next funding period includes a $815M project to build a free-standing Cancer Pavilion.