Arizona Cancer Center receives $20 million NIH grant

The Arizona Cancer Center has received a $20-million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—the largest NIH grant in the University of Arizona's history. The grant is a renewal of the Center's core grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and has been continuously funded since 1978.

"The anticipated $19.8 million over the next five years represents an increase of 70 percent over the previous five-year funding of $11.6 million," said Daniel Von Hoff, director of the Arizona Health Sciences Center Cancer Therapeutics Program and former director of the Arizona Cancer Center. "This reflects the rating of 'excellent' we received from the 23-member peer-review team that visited us in January, as well as the phenomenal growth of our programs over the past five years."

Von Hoff said that, as a result of reductions in NCI's budget, the $19.8 million actually falls short of the full amount recommended by the peer review committee.

The money will be used to provide funding for six research programs, 19 shared services, clinical protocol review and monitoring, planning and evaluation, administration, and developmental funds for new research initiatives. It will be paid out over five years, with an initial disbursement of $3.75 million in the first year.

"This major grant renewal is fantastic news for the University of Arizona and our entire state," said Raymond Woosley, UA vice president for health sciences. "The Cancer Center is internationally recognized for its research discoveries and compassionate patient care. It also is an essential component in Arizona's major push in biotechnology research and development because of the highly successful drug development program that has produced new drugs that are now in clinical investigation."

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For more information:

"Arizona Cancer Center Receives $19.8 Million Core Grant Renewal from the National Cancer Institute," Arizona Cancer Center news release, 09/15/2003