Cancer Centers Funding History

Cancer centers supported by the NCI multidisciplinary research programs at academic and other organizations are one of the key elements of the research infrastructure for cancer research. As a group, they are engaged in all aspects of cancer research, including basic, clinical, and cancer control research. Cancer Centers also serve as a stable resource for training new cancer investigators. Of the 55 Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) awarded in FY 1995, 11 were to basic laboratory centers, 1 was to a consortium center, 17 were to clinical centers, and 26 were to comprehensive centers. In addition, 13 of the 14 Cancer Center Planning Grants which were funded in FYs 1992 and 1993 continued in FY 1995, and three new awards were issued. The Cancer Center Planning Grants initiative was begun in FY 1992 to increase geographical distribution of cancer centers in under represented areas of the country.

Funding initiatives, designed to strengthen the Cancer Centers Program and promote the fulfillment of its mission, include the following: (1) R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grants were awarded to six cancer centers to establish new research programs in prostate cancer. Funds were also awarded to five cancer centers for meritorious pilot projects to strengthen their research in this area. Additional funds from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) allowed for partial funding of two applications whose research emphasis was of high programmatic priority to NIEHS. A total of approximately $2.3 million was expended for this initiative; (2) Through a special competing initiative and $50,000 commitment by the Office of Research for Minority Health, NIH, the Cancer Centers Branch provided travel support for cancer center members and the center networks’ Native American members for participation in the Third Native American Cancer Conference in Seattle, Washington in June, 1995; (3) The P20 planning grants for the development of breast cancer research programs in NCI-designated cancer centers initiated in 1994 were converted from the P20 grant mechanism to the R21 grant mechanism. This was based on the focus of the developing program on exploratory /feasibility studies to stimulate development of breast cancer programs, which is more suited to the R21 mechanism; (4) Based on discussions at the 1995 Cancer Centers Directors Workshop and recommendation by the National Cancer Advisory Board’s (NCAB) Cancer Centers Subcommittee, the NCAB approved that the essential element of High Priority Clinical Trials (HPCTs) required previously for comprehensiveness review will no longer be an essential required element. However, it was also stressed that the centers should nevertheless be encouraged to participate in HPCTs whenever feasible; (5) three new planning grants (P20) were awarded in FY 1995, to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, Louisiana State University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky; (6) institutions that are not current recipients of CCSGs, in addition to institutions that were awarded planning grants in 1992, submitted competing applications to become NCI- designated cancer centers; (7) two new Cancer Center Support Grants were awarded in FY 1995, to Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee; (8) Several policies governing the CCSG Guidelines were refined and implemented during FY 1995. These refinements include: (a) increase of CCSG support from 0.5 to 1.0 FTE for the Clinical Protocol Scientific Review and Monitoring System and (b) provision of developmental funds for methodology research in the highly specialized CCSG supported shared resources; (9) workshops were again held for Cancer Center Directors of both established cancer centers as well as the recipients of P20 Planning Grants.

In collaboration with the National Institute of Environmental Sciences, a Request for Application (RFA), was issued for establishing new interactive, multidisciplinary basic, clinical, and prevention and control research programs in prostate cancer. While basic laboratory research was the foundational component of the RFA, it encouraged applicants to include elements that addressed the special emphasis areas of environmental and occupational carcinogenesis, prevention and control research opportunities, and/or the unusually high incidence and mortality rates in under served minority and other high risk populations in their areas of influence.

In FY 1995, awards were made to six cancer centers to establish new programs in prostate cancer research and to five cancer centers for meritorious pilot projects to strengthen their research in this area.

The Cancer Center Planning Grant, designed in 1992 to increase the geographic distribution of cancer centers in areas of the country not currently served by NCI-designated cancer centers, was awarded to 14 institutions in FY 1992 and 1993. As a way to further encourage the representation of cancer centers in under served areas, an RFA was again issued in FY 1994 to announce the availability of planning and development grants for cancer centers for this purpose. This initiative was intended to provide current P20 recipients an opportunity to continue their planning and development activities or for new institutions to begin similar ventures. In addition to basic cancer research, these centers are expected to emphasize clinical and prevention/control research that will ultimately impact on the populations in their regions, paying particular attention to minority, rural, and other under served populations. Three awards were made in FY 1995 in response to this initiative.

Since 1978, the NCI has recognized a category of cancer centers designated as Comprehensive, and so termed because of the broad array of cancer research, training, information, and outreach services they provide to their communities. Comprehensive Guidelines, issued in 1990 and revised in 1993 and 1995, refined and clarified the concept of an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, the application procedures and the peer review criteria that centers were to use to attain and renew this designation. The revised guidelines introduced greater rigor and consistency to the process of achieving comprehensive status, requiring meritorious achievement in the following review criteria.

Criteria for Comprehensiveness

Together with scientific excellence and leadership, the essential programmatic elements of a comprehensive cancer center include:

1) Basic Laboratory Research: A critical mass of integrated personnel, facilities and peer-reviewed support for interdisciplinary basic research is essential in a comprehensive cancer center.

2) Basic/Clinical Research Linkage: A comprehensive cancer center should facilitate the transfer of exciting laboratory discoveries to innovative clinical applications, including clinical treatment and prevention.

3) Clinical Research: A significant clinical research program utilizing patient resources of the institution and its region is essential.

4) Education and Training of Biomedical Researchers and Health Care Professionals: Comprehensive cancer centers are expected to have peer-reviewed research in cancer prevention and control and to have planned or ongoing involvement in cancer control on a regional and national basis.

5) Public Information Services: It is essential that a comprehensive center be a focal point for clinical and research training, including state-of-the-art research and technology, for health care professionals locally and within the region.

6) Information Services: A comprehensive cancer center should have an established patient education program and the ability to provide patients and their families with up-to-date information on local as well as national resources that may be needed. In addition, the center should participate in its region's Cancer Information Service.

7) Community Service and Outreach: A comprehensive cancer center should define the community it serves, take steps to identify cancer issues and problems in this community, and carry out appropriate outreach programs addressing these concerns including cancer prevention and control activities.

Return to Extramural Programs