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Program

Designation process

The NIH funds cancer centers through a P30 Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) mechanism.⁴ To be eligible to apply, a cancer center must receive at least $10 million in cancer research funding annually. Preparation for these grant applications can be extensive. The most recent grant application prepared by MD Anderson Cancer Center took 24 months to prepare and ran to 2,963 pages.⁵ Cancer centers must renew their status with the NIH every 5 years.

The NCI considers the certain characteristics essential to a cancer center, and requires that applications address the institutions' resources in the areas of: Physical Space, Organizational Capabilities, Transdisciplinary Collaboration and Coordination, Cancer Focus, Institutional Commitment, Center Director.⁶

Independent or freestanding cancer centers are entities unto themselves and are not considered to be part of a larger institution or university. The center’s administration controls all space, appointments and budgets. These institutions may have university affiliations, but they remain administratively and financially distinct.⁷

The NCI also supports Consortium Centers, wherein scientists and clinicians from multiple institutions enter into formal agreements to expand cancer research programs.⁸ Importantly, Consortium Partners are not themselves considered NCI-designated. The NCI has strict guidelines on how Consortium Partners can refer to their relationship with their parent Consortium Center.

Designations

Comprehensive Cancer Center

The standards for Comprehensive Cancer Centers are the most restrictive. These facilities must demonstrate expertise in each of three areas: laboratory, clinical and behavioral and population-based research. Comprehensive Cancer Centers are expected to initiate and conduct early phase, innovative clinical trials and to participate in the NCI's cooperative groups by providing leadership and recruiting patients for trials. Comprehensive Cancer Centers must also conduct activities in outreach and education, and provide information on advances in healthcare for both healthcare professionals and the public. Comprehensive cancer centers may apply for up to $1.5 million per year from the Department of Health and Human Services.⁹

These grants fund shared resources to further the goals of the National Cancer Institute. Some of these include the administration of cancer research programs, training activities, core facilities with technology shared by investigators and clinical trial management services.¹⁰

Clinical Cancer Center

Clinical Cancer Centers generally conduct a combination of basic, population sciences and clinical research, and are encouraged to stimulate collaborative research involving more than one field of study. Clinical cancer centers may apply for up to $1.4 million per year.

Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers

Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers conduct only laboratory research and do not provide patient treatment. Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers are more often affiliated with research institutes rather than universities. They are eligible to apply for up to $1.2 million per year.¹¹

List of centers

See also

• List of cancer hospitals
• National Cancer Institute – U.S. health institute
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network – Non-profit organization in the U.S.
• Oncology – Branch of medicine dealing with, or specializing in, cancer

External links

• Find an NCI-designated Cancer Center

References

1. "NCI-Designated Cancer Centers". National Cancer Institute. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-centers ↩

2. "NCI-Designated Cancer Centers". National Cancer Institute. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-centers ↩

3. "Newly Registered Patients: Data Table 3". National Cancer Institute. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025. https://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer-centers/benchmark-data/newly-registered-patients-dt3 ↩

4. "PAR-17-095: Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30)". grants.nih.gov. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-17-095.html ↩

5. "treat the immune system, attack the cancer". MD Anderson Cancer Center. https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/annual-report/annual-report-2013/the-cancer-center-support-grant.html ↩

6. "PAR-17-095: Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30)". grants.nih.gov. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-17-095.html ↩

7. Simone, Joseph V. (1 December 2002). "Understanding Cancer Centers". Journal of Clinical Oncology. 20 (23): 4503–4507. doi:10.1200/jco.2002.07.574. PMID 12454105. http://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2002.07.574 ↩

8. "PAR-17-095: Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30)". grants.nih.gov. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-17-095.html ↩

9. "PAR-17-095: Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30)". grants.nih.gov. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-17-095.html ↩

10. "PAR-17-095: Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30)". grants.nih.gov. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-17-095.html ↩

11. "PAR-17-095: Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30)". grants.nih.gov. https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-17-095.html ↩

12. "Find a Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find ↩

13. "O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/uabccc ↩

14. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has facilities in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, but is counted as a single institution. It is headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota. ↩

15. "Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/mayoclinic ↩

16. "University of Arizona Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/arizonacc ↩

17. "Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/ucirvinechao ↩

18. "City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/beckmancityofhope ↩

19. "UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/ucsfhelendiller ↩

20. "UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/uclajonsson ↩

21. "Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/ucsdmoores ↩

22. "Salk Institute Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/salk ↩

23. "Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/sanfordburnham ↩

24. "Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI)". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/stanfordci ↩

25. "About Us". Stanford Medicine Cancer Institute. http://med.stanford.edu/cancer/about.html ↩

26. "UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/ucdaviscc ↩

27. "USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/uscnorris ↩

28. "University of Colorado Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/ucolorado ↩

29. "Yale Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/yalecc ↩

30. The District of Columbia is not a state, but rather a federal district. ↩

31. "Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/georgetownlombardi ↩

32. "About Our NCI Designation". Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Retrieved 2022-02-22. https://lombardi.georgetown.edu/about/comprehensive/ ↩

33. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has facilities in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, but is counted as a single institution. It is headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota. ↩

34. "Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/mayoclinic ↩

35. "Moffitt Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/moffitt ↩

36. "Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/sylvester-miami ↩

37. "University of Florida Health Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/ufhealth ↩

38. "Winship Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/emorywinship ↩

39. "University of Hawai'i Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/uhawaiicc ↩

40. "Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/northwesternlurie ↩

41. "The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/uchicagoccc ↩

42. "Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/indianasimon ↩

43. "Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/purdueccr ↩

44. "Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/iowaholden ↩

45. "The University of Kansas Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/kucc ↩

46. "University of Kansas Cancer Center - NCI Designation". https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/transformative-research/nci-designation ↩

47. "Markey Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/ukmarkey ↩

48. "The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/jacksonlab ↩

49. The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health are both named for philanthropist Sidney Kimmel, however they have no institutional relations with each other. /wiki/Sidney_Kimmel ↩

50. "Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/hopkinskimmel ↩

51. "University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/umdgreenebaum ↩

52. "Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC)". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/dfharvard ↩

53. "David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/mitkoch ↩

54. "The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/waynestatekarmanos ↩

55. "University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/umichiganccc ↩

56. "Masonic Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/minnesotamasonic ↩

57. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has facilities in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, but is counted as a single institution. It is headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota. ↩

58. "Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/mayoclinic ↩

59. "Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/washingtonsiteman ↩

60. "Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/nebraska ↩

61. "Dartmouth". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/dartmouthnorriscotton ↩

62. "Rutgers Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/cinj ↩

63. "University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/newmexicocrtc ↩

64. "Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/coldspringharbor ↩

65. "Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/irvingcolumbia ↩

66. "Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/nyuci ↩

67. "Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/memorialsloankettering ↩

68. "Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/meccc ↩

69. "Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/roswellpark ↩

70. "Hospital and Institute Affiliation". https://medicine.buffalo.edu/departments/radiation-oncology/about/affiliations.html ↩

71. "Tisch Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/tischmountsinai ↩

72. "Wilmot Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/wilmot ↩

73. "Duke Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/dukeci ↩

74. "UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/unclineberger ↩

75. "Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/wakeforest ↩

76. "Case Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/casewestern ↩

77. "The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/osujames ↩

78. "Stephenson Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/stephenson ↩

79. "OHSU Knight Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/ohsuknight ↩

80. "Abramson Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/upennabramson ↩

81. "Fox Chase Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/foxchase ↩

82. The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health are both named for philanthropist Sidney Kimmel, however they have no institutional relations with each other. /wiki/Sidney_Kimmel ↩

83. "Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/jeffersonkimmel ↩

84. "UPMC Hillman Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/upci ↩

85. "Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center of The Wistar Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/wistar ↩

86. "Hollings Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/muschollings ↩

87. "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/stjude ↩

88. "Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/vanderbiltingram ↩

89. "Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/baylorduncan ↩

90. "Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/utswsimmons ↩

91. "Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/utsanantonio ↩

92. "The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/mdanderson ↩

93. "Huntsman Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/utahhuntsman ↩

94. "VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/vcumassey ↩

95. "University of Virginia Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/uvacc ↩

96. "Fred Hutch / University of Washington / Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/fredhutchcrc ↩

97. "University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/uwcarbone ↩