A Gift Like No Other

One in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lives. New cancer cases globally are expected to reach 29.5 million per year by 2040. The need for more breakthrough research and innovative treatments is paramount. 

To meet this challenge, The University of Kansas Cancer Center will break ground on a world-class patient care and cancer research facility, making the center a global beacon of hope for curing all types of cancer. The new building will be located on the 39th and Rainbow Campus, with construction expected to begin in fall 2024. 

History in the Making

In 2022, the cancer center’s vision was catalyzed by a historic and unprecedented $100 million gift from The Sunderland Foundation. It is the largest gift ever given by The Sunderland Foundation and the largest ever received by the University of Kansas and The University of Kansas Health System. 

“We believe The University of Kansas Cancer Center is poised to change cancer research and care for generations,” says Charlie Sunderland, trustee of The Sunderland Foundation and former chair of The University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board’s Quality Committee. “Giving people the opportunity to receive such a high level of quality cancer treatment close to home is a gift like no other. I’m grateful for the foundation’s role in making this possible.” 

The Sunderland Foundation has a long history of supporting the cancer center and health system. In 2018, they gifted $66 million to finish three floors of Cambridge Tower A, which now houses the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program and the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics. Earlier in 2023, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) - a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations - secured $43 million in congressionally directed spending to plan and help build research-focused aspects of the new facility.

Research drives advances in cancer care. Basic research findings inform the development of better therapies, and observations in the clinic lead to new endeavors in the lab. To make the biggest difference in patients’ lives, we need leaders in every form of cancer discovery and care working together to develop the treatments of tomorrow. Integration across the cancer research and care spectrum accelerates progress in treating and preventing cancer. 

Diverse perspectives lead to more effective problem-solving. This approach will allow researchers to collaborate in real time with physicians to develop personalized treatment options, speeding up the approval process and the launch of new treatments for patients. The building will serve as a bridge between research and clinical activities, enhancing research efforts by providing open and specialized laboratory space for teams of basic scientists and clinicians, thereby promoting collaboration and a seamless exchange of information.

Unlocking Potential

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is already home to the region’s largest and most comprehensive hematologic malignancies and cellular therapeutics program, and the new facility will allow the cancer center to concentrate its cellular therapy research efforts. In cellular therapy, living (and sometimes genetically modified) cells are used to fight cancer. The cancer center offers all FDA-approved chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, and researchers are conducting 20-plus active CAR T-cell clinical trials for liquid and solid tumors. The new facility will spur more collaborations, unlocking the full potential of what’s possible in personalized, cell-based treatment.

A Beacon of Hope

We know more about cancer today than ever before, but it isn’t enough to make the difference we need and want to make in patients’ lives. As the region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, it’s our duty to uncover new insights and innovative approaches that bring hope to patients and their families. 

This new facility is a step toward better outcomes for cancer patients in our community. Together, with unwavering commitment to the patients we serve, we aspire to revolutionize the landscape of cancer research and care in our region.