Largest Cancer Center Core Grant In UAB History

Comprehensive Cancer Center leaders hailed receipt of the biggest grant in its 34-year history as a vote of confidence in its efforts to bring innovative treatment and research to the people of Alabama and the Deep South. The 5-year, $30.9 million award continues the core funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to the Cancer Center.

The award provides the essential core facilities and basic infrastructure that enable the Cancer Center's 250 faculty to continue working toward a cure for the disease. Scientists and physicians use the resources of UAB's largest center to attract additional funding on their own. Nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts currently flow through UAB's Cancer Center.

"The renewal of our basic federal grant represents the continuation of a great tradition of excellent research and patient care," Peter D. Emanuel, MD, acting director of the Cancer Center, says. "Our cutting edge research to fight cancer helps bring the best possible treatment and care to Alabamians."

Dr. Emanuel notes the total award was a 5% increase over the previous core grant. "At a time when the NCI budget increased by only half that percentage, clearly this exceeds our expectations," he says. The Cancer Center undergoes a major review of activities every 5 years, and each time its renewal process is followed closely by the UAB community. The announcement comes in the wake of recent statistics showing that cancer is the leading cause of death for Alabamians aged 45-74 years.

The NCI classifies UAB as a "comprehensive" cancer center, a designation that signals the most advanced cancer research, treatment, and education. It has maintained that status since becoming 1 of the nation's original 11 comprehensive centers in 1973. Today, there are 38 such major centers nationwide — no others in Alabama or the five other Deep South states.

The core grant, which begins with a $5.8 million award for the coming year, supports 15 research facilities shared by UAB scientists and physicians. The enterprise pays off with innovative research that UAB has helped apply in cancer diagnosis and treatment. The Cancer Center is particularly noted for its role in developing and testing new treatments, such as bevacizumab (manufactured by Genentech, Inc., as Avastin) and cetuximab (manufactured by ImClone Systems, Inc., as Erbitux), both approved in 2004 for the treatment of colon cancer. Dr. Emanuel says the Cancer Center in coming years will concentrate on developing programs in three emerging fields: cancer genetics, epidemiology, and the link between nutrition, obesity, and cancer.

The center's research activities include nine major programs. Long-term strengths such as tumor immunology, structural biology, virology, and tumor biology focus primarily on laboratory research. Others, including the women's cancer and neuro-oncology programs, emphasize patient interventions.

The Cancer Center's emphasis on research brings patients the latest tools in diagnosis, access to promising new aproaches for battling the disease, as well as clinical studies. Laboratory scientists interact with physicians conducting clinical investigations to move research findings quickly and safely to the patient care setting. UAB also conducts numerous studies on cancer prevention and control.

In 2004, about 4,200 new patients received cancer treatment at UAB.

Dr. Emanuel credits much of the Cancer Center's success to its leadership. John R. Durant, MD, was director for the initial 10 years, and Albert F. LoBuglio, MD, served for 23 years until he stepped down last year. A national search for the next permanent director is under way.