Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center receive highest rating

Center also receives core grant renewal, recommended funding of almost $25 million over next 5 years

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University received its highest rating, an overall "outstanding," on the competitive renewal of its National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), along with recommended funding of $24.9 million over the next five years. The grant award, which will run through 2018, provides essential support for the Lurie Cancer Center's nine research programs and 15 shared research facilities.

The award follows a rigorous review process by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), including a peer-review site visit in February.

"This rating for the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant reflects the scope and strength of the work being done by our researcher's, clinicians and staff members," said Steven T. Rosen, MD, director of the Lurie Cancer Center and director of cancer programs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "We are honored by the NCI's continued recognition of our commitment to collaboration and to discovering more effective ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer."

First established in 1974, the center was dedicated as the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University through a gift of endowment from Ann and Robert H. Lurie. The title was modified when the center received its NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1998. The Lurie Cancer Center is one of only 41 institutions in the United States to hold the prestigious Comprehensive Cancer Center designation from the NCI, and one of only two in Illinois.

The Lurie Cancer Center is dedicated to scientific discovery, advancing medical knowledge, providing compassionate, state-of-the-art cancer care, and training the next generation of clinicians and scientists. Outstanding basic, translational, and clinical research complements a full range of prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care programs for all types of cancer.