HEADLINE: Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Receives ''Outstanding'' Rating; NCI Re-designation Denotes Highest Achievements in Laboratory, Clinical and Behavioral and Population-based Research
DATELINE: CLEVELAND
BODY:
The
National Cancer Institute (NCI), a major component of the National
Institutes of Health, has reaffirmed the formal designation of the Case
Comprehensive Cancer Center as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer
Center. Only 40 cancer centers around the country currently hold this
designation, placing the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center among the top
tier of centers nationally.
Fast becoming
a competitive powerhouse of basic science and clinical research
world-wide, the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center under the direction of
Stanton L. Gerson, M.D., brings together more than 320 basic-
and clinical-science cancer physician and faculty experts from Case
Western Reserve University, the Ireland Cancer Center of University
Hospitals Case Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer
Center.
"Our Center is one of only a few
around the country that have effectively brought institutions together.
Cleveland is unparalleled in this regard. We are a much stronger Center
through this collaboration and can help many more patients while we
make cutting edge discoveries. Our goal is to rapidly bring discoveries
to clinical practice to improve the results for our cancer patients,"
stated Dr. Gerson, who also serves as director of the Ireland
Cancer Center at Case Medical Center. "This is possible because of the
cooperation among the leading scientists and clinicians at our three
institutions. More than 1,200 patients benefit from these clinical
trials of new cancer treatments at the Center annually. Our goal is to
further expand our reach by bringing into our program MetroHealth
Medical Center, the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and many
of the community-based cancer treatment sites throughout Northern Ohio."
The
Comprehensive Cancer Center Designation reflects the outstanding
commitment of the Center to education, community outreach, efforts to
support minority population cancer care needs and efforts to bring
innovative cancer treatments to patients in Northern Ohio. The Case
Comprehensive Cancer Center sponsors six NIH funded training programs
for graduate students, post-PhD and MD trainees, medical trainees and
new faculty who come to Case because of the training environment. Over
40 individuals benefit from this training support. Overall, more than
120 students are involved in cancer research across the campuses.
The
Center receives support from the Susan G. Komen 'For the Cure'
Foundation, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the American Cancer
Society, to promote cancer prevention and early detection programs
using colonoscopy for colon cancer, blood tests and exams for prostate
cancer, a new swab test for cervical and endometrial cancer and digital
mammograms for breast cancer. Center members also present cancer health
screening and education programs throughout the region. "We are
concerned that the Cleveland African American community suffers a high
rate of cancer and often has a worse than expected outcome. For this
reason, we have developed community outreach efforts and interactions
with Cleveland medical practices to offer the best care for cancer as
early as possible," said Dr. Gerson.
The
Center is the only NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center in Northern Ohio. It
is currently in its 18thyear, beginning at Case Western Reserve and
University Hospitals Case Medical Center in 1987, expanding to include
Cleveland Clinic in 2004. Each institution has made substantial
investments in cancer research in the past few years: Case built the
Iris S. & Bert L. Wolstein Research Building, which houses a number
of Cancer Center labs and facilities; University Hospitals has
committed to building a 320,000 square foot cancer hospital and
establishing a regional cancer care network; and Cleveland Clinic has
expanded its Cancer Biology Department and organized its community
based cancer clinical practices.
The Case
Comprehensive Cancer Center's re-designation followed a rigorous review
process that in late 2006 brought the NCI staff and its 28-member
scientific review group to tour, evaluate and listen as the Center
demonstrated through comprehensive presentation and documented
achievements, its expertise in laboratory, clinical, and behavioral and
population-based research. Reinforcing the interactive commitment to
the community, the leadership of the partner institutions affirmed
their current and projected collaborations, and poster presentations by
core facility directors outlined the development of joint resources to
further support the overall plan.
Dr. Gerson,
who also serves as Director, Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative
Medicine and Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of
Medicine, is optimistic about the future of cancer-based research and
community education. Dr. Gerson said, "I congratulate the
institutions, our memberships and the City of Cleveland for
establishing one of the best Cancer Centers in the country."
About Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Founded
in 1843, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is the
largest medical research institution in Ohio and 12th largest among the
nation's medical schools for research funding from the National
Institutes of Health. Eleven Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with
the school.
The School of Medicine is
recognized throughout the international medical community for
outstanding achievements in teaching and in 2002, became the third
medical school in history to receive a pre-eminent review from the
national body responsible for accrediting the nation's academic medical
institutions. The School's innovative and pioneeringWestern Reserve2curriculum
interweaves four themes--research and scholarship, clinical mastery,
leadership, and civic professionalism--to prepare students for the
practice of evidence-based medicine in the rapidly changing health care
environment of the 21stcentury.
Annually,
the School of Medicine trains more than 600 M.D. and M.D./Ph.D.
students and ranks in the top 25 among U.S. research-oriented medical
schools as designated byU.S. News and World Report Guide to Graduate Education.
The
School of Medicine's primary clinical affiliate is University Hospitals
Case Medical Center and is additionally affiliated with MetroHealth
Medical Center, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans
Affairs Medical Center, and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, with which
it established the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case
Western Reserve University in 2002.http://casemed.case.edu
CONTACT: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Susan Licate, 216-368-3635 susan.licate@case.edu
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