The National Cancer Institutue has awarded its prestigious federal Cancer Center designation to the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute.
The Wilmot Cancer Institute is Upstate New York’s largest cancer provider, supporting 27 counties with a population of more than 3.2 million people. This region, which lacks an NCI-designated cancer center, is one of the largest underserved areas in the nation in terms of access to cutting-edge cancer research and treatment. There is strong bipartisan support for boosting funding for the Wilmot Cancer Institute, which has made significant cancer research discoveries and treats thousands of cancer patients each year.
Wilmot Cancer Institute, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is New York’s busiest cancer center outside of NYC, serving a 27-county region with over 3.2 million people, a geographic area larger than Vermont and New Hampshire combined. It operates across 13 locations in a unique catchment area that lacks any other NCI-designated cancer center and faces significantly higher cancer incidence and mortality rates than the rest of the state and nation. If this region were its own state, it would rank second in the country for cancer incidence behind Kentucky. The region includes rural communities and areas of high poverty, including Rochester, ranked third in poverty among the 75 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Additionally, 12 counties in this region are designated as part of Appalachia, further limiting healthcare access, and it has the largest per-capita Deaf population in the country, requiring specialized approaches to cancer care. Cancer disparities by geography, race, and ethnicity are stark, with access challenges and higher rates of smoking, obesity, and inactivity.
Over the past eight years, Wilmot Cancer Institute has embarked on a strategic plan with the goal of becoming an NCI-designated cancer center. Wilmot has significant institutional commitment from the University of Rochester and broad community support and has been successful in recruiting over 30 world-class scientists, doubling accruals to clinical trials, doubling external funding for cancer research, and establishing impactful Community Outreach and Engagement, and Cancer Research Training and Education programs resulting in an elite cancer center worthy of NCI designation.
The Cancer Center designation provides additional research funding, increases clinical opportunities and patient volume, and enhances ability to recruit cancer investigators, among other benefits. In addition to federal funding, the University of Rochester has committed over $100 million in institutional investment to strengthen Wilmot’s infrastructure, research capabilities, and workforce recruitment. Based on a based on an estimate from the Center for Governmental Research, the designation is also expected to generate nearly 1,900 new jobs, create $194 million in labor income, and contribute $15 million annually in income and sales tax revenue—making it a major economic driver for the region.
“I am proud to announce that following my advocacy, Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute has received the prestigious federal Cancer Center designation. This designation is the ultimate recognition for the world-class staff here in Rochester that they are leading America in cancer research and through their work will make new breakthroughs in cancer treatment and save lives,” said Senator Schumer. “The Wilmot Cancer Institute is Upstate New York’s largest cancer provider, and this designation is a national spotlight to uplift them as one of the top cancer research centers in the country. It means additional funding, better support for our doctors & nurses, increasing clinical opportunities, and enhancing the center’s ability to recruit cancer investigators. I personally called the former NIH director to advocate for this designation last fall and will always fight to ensure New York’s medical researchers have the resources they need to provide the medical care New Yorkers deserve.”
“Today is a monumental day for the University of Rochester and the Wilmot Cancer Institute—one that is more than 10 years in the making,” said University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf. “This National Cancer Institute designation allows us to forge a new path to removing the burden of cancer in our community and throughout upstate New York. From here, our goals are to continue making the discoveries right here in Rochester that advance our understanding of cancer, improve the effectiveness of current therapies, and through research and clinical trials provide new life-saving and life-extending treatments to all of our patients in need. This couldn’t have happened without the strong bipartisan support and efforts from our Congressional delegation. I want to profoundly thank Sen. Chuck Schumer for his unwavering support to the University and the Rochester community that has helped us reach this milestone. I also want to thank Rep. Joe Morelle for his leadership and Senator Gillibrand, Rep. Langworthy and Rep. Tenney for their strong support.”
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