WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today sent a letter signed by members of both the Kansas and Missouri federal congressional delegation in support of the University of Kansas Cancer Center’s work to be designated a “Comprehensive” Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute.

Senator Roberts’ letter to the Acting Director of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Douglas Lowy, was signed by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.), Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.).

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the federal government's primary agency to address research and training needs for the cause, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. 

NCI-Designated Cancer Centers are recognized for their scientific leadership, resources, and the depth and breadth of their research in basic, clinical, and/or population science. Comprehensive Cancer Centers demonstrate an added depth and breadth of research, as well as substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas. There are 15 Cancer Centers and 47 Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The text of the letter dated today, is below:

Douglas Lowy, M.D.

Acting Director, National Cancer Institute

6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 300

Bethesda, MD 20892-8322

Dear Dr. Lowy,

We write to express our continued support for The University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) in its pursuit of National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive designation. This bi-state initiative, which includes Stowers Institutes for Medical Research as a consortium partner with the University of Kansas, is an important endeavor to reduce the burden of cancer in our region. As noted in KUCC’s grant submission:

“In the KU Cancer Center catchment area, which includes 105 counties in Kansas and 18 counties in western Missouri, it is estimated that over 22,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer, and more than 8,500 people will die from cancer in 2016. Cancer causes approximately 15 deaths per day in both Kansas and western Missouri, and accounts for approximately 22 percent of all deaths. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Kansas and this has been the case since 2010.”

We certainly agree with this assessment. KUCC will continue to be a critically important regional and national asset in the fight against cancer. Prior to NCI designation in 2012, many Kansas residents often had to drive several hundred miles to access the nearest NCI designated cancer center. KUCC can further aid cancer patients by obtaining Comprehensive Cancer status, which will propel their ability to discover, develop and deliver innovative therapies to patients.

Finally, we wish to thank you for leading the NCI at this critical time and recognize that our nation’s investment in cancer research is vitally important to our nation’s health and long-term competitiveness. Your leadership and the NCI Cancer Centers program are key assets as we seek to reduce the incident of cancer. Thank you again for your commitment to this effort.

Senator Roberts is a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). He is co-chairman of the Senate Rural Health Caucus. He has been an outspoken advocate for increasing investment in Kansas’ research infrastructure, including the University of Kansas’ efforts to receive the NCI’s Cancer Center designation.

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