HOUSTON – Baylor College of Medicine has received a prestigious distinction this morning. The National Cancer Institute has awarded the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor designation of a Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The comprehensive status designation moves the Duncan Cancer Center into an elite class of 45 centers from around the country whose programs demonstrate significant depth and breadth in basic, clinical and translational research, research into cancers most affecting their communities, clinical care, outreach and education activities, as well as cancer epidemiology and prevention programs.
Baylor tells KPRC that this is good news for Houston because this expands opportunities for access to state-of-the-art clinical care and research for us, "The addition of a new Comprehensive Cancer Center in Houston strengthens the city's resources for fighting the disease."
"Texas is the second largest state in the U.S. yet we have very few NCI designated cancer centers compared to other states," said Dr. Kent Osborne, director of the Duncan Cancer Center. "California has 10, seven of which are comprehensive, and four of those in the Los Angeles area. Philadelphia, Chicago and San Diego have several as well. There is room for one more Comprehensive Cancer Center in the fourth largest city in the country and it facilitates collaborations."
The Comprehensive Cancer Center designation includes a $14.5 million, five-year grant.
"The National Cancer Institute designation is an important recognition of the quality of the programs that make up the Duncan Cancer Center, and of the work done by its physicians, scientists and staff," said Dr. Paul E. Klotman, Baylor president, CEO and executive dean. "The strength of Baylor's cancer program always has been in the highest caliber research and the most compassionate patient care. This designation underscores that work."
There are only two additional comprehensive cancer centers in the state, including the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, which was awarded comprehensive status this month.
Baylor said they have an agreement with MD Anderson to enable use of each other's shared resources which avoids duplication and reduces expenses.
"Since the cancer center's inception in 2006, we have always been focused on achieving comprehensive status," said Osborne. "This means you meet the highest standards set forth by the National Cancer Institute. Each cancer center undergoes a rigorous review process to achieve the highly-coveted comprehensive designation."
Over the last five years, the Center exhibited growth in key areas that differentiate NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers from others: a high level of research funding, strong basic, translational and clinical research, outstanding cancer epidemiology and prevention research, service to the community, clinical trials participation including underserved patients, new clinical programs and faculty recruitment, and leadership in cancer education. In addition, comprehensive centers must show contributions to helping the cancer fight in the communities they serve.