NCI-designated Cancer Center

A map of National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers.

NCI-designated Cancer Centers are a group of 74 cancer research institutions in the United States supported by the National Cancer Institute.

Three designations are recognized: Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Clinical Cancer Centers and Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers. As of May 20, 2026, there are 8 Clinical Cancer Centers, 58 Comprehensive Cancer Centers and 8 Basic Laboratory Cancer Centers. Most are associated with a university. Receiving the NCI-designation places cancer centers among the top 4% of the approximately 1,500 cancer centers in the United States.[citation needed]

In 2021, more than 411,000 new patients were enrolled in a clinical trial at an NCI-designated Cancer Center.

Program

Designation process

The NIH funds cancer centers through a P30 Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) mechanism. 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. Cancer centers must renew their status with the NIH every 5 years.[citation needed]

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.

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.

The NCI also supports Consortium Centers, wherein scientists and clinicians from multiple institutions enter into formal agreements to expand cancer research programs. 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.[citation needed]

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.

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.

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.

List of centers

List of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers
Cancer CenterStateCityDesignationInstitutionRef
O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer CenterAlabamaBirminghamComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer CenterArizonaPhoenixComprehensive Cancer CenterIndependent
University of Arizona Cancer CenterArizonaTucsonComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Arizona
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer CenterCaliforniaOrangeComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California, Irvine
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer CenterCaliforniaDuarteComprehensive Cancer CenterIndependent
Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer CenterCaliforniaSan FranciscoComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California, San Francisco
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer CenterCaliforniaLos AngelesComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Moores Cancer CenterCaliforniaLa JollaComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California, San Diego
Salk Institute Cancer CenterCaliforniaLa JollaBasic Laboratory Cancer CenterIndependent
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery InstituteCaliforniaLa JollaBasic Laboratory Cancer CenterIndependent
Stanford Cancer InstituteCaliforniaStanfordComprehensive Cancer CenterStanford University
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer CenterCaliforniaSacramentoComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of California, Davis
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer CenterCaliforniaLos AngelesComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Southern California
University of Colorado Cancer CenterColoradoAuroraComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Colorado
Yale Cancer CenterConnecticutNew HavenComprehensive Cancer CenterYale University School of Medicine
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer CenterDistrict of ColumbiaWashingtonComprehensive Cancer CenterGeorgetown University
Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer CenterFloridaJacksonvilleComprehensive Cancer CenterIndependent
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research InstituteFloridaTampaComprehensive Cancer CenterIndependent
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer CenterFloridaMiamiClinical Cancer CenterUniversity of Miami Miller School of Medicine
University of Florida Health Cancer CenterFloridaGainesvilleClinical Cancer CenterUniversity of Florida
Winship Cancer InstituteGeorgiaAtlantaComprehensive Cancer CenterEmory University
University of Hawaiʻi Cancer CenterHawaiʻiHonoluluClinical Cancer CenterUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer CenterIllinoisChicagoComprehensive Cancer CenterNorthwestern University
University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer CenterIllinoisChicagoComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Chicago
Cancer Center at Illinois Illinois Urbana Basic Laboratory Cancer Center University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianaIndianapolisComprehensive Cancer CenterIndiana University
Purdue Institute for Cancer ResearchIndianaWest LafayetteBasic Laboratory Cancer CenterPurdue University
Holden Comprehensive Cancer CenterIowaIowa CityComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Iowa
University of Kansas Cancer CenterKansasKansas CityComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Kansas
Markey Cancer CenterKentuckyLexingtonComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Kentucky
Jackson Laboratory Cancer CenterMaineBar HarborBasic Laboratory Cancer CenterIndependent
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CenterMarylandBaltimoreComprehensive Cancer CenterJohns Hopkins University
University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer CenterMarylandBaltimoreComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore
Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer CenterMassachusettsBostonComprehensive Cancer CenterHarvard University
David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer ResearchMassachusettsCambridgeBasic Laboratory Cancer CenterMassachusetts Institute of Technology
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer InstituteMichiganDetroitComprehensive Cancer CenterWayne State University School of Medicine
Rogel Cancer CenterMichiganAnn ArborComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Michigan
Masonic Cancer CenterMinnesotaMinneapolisComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Minnesota
Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer CenterMinnesotaRochesterComprehensive Cancer CenterIndependent
Alvin J. Siteman Cancer CenterMissouriSt. LouisComprehensive Cancer CenterWashington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer CenterNebraskaOmahaClinical Cancer CenterNebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Dartmouth Cancer CenterNew HampshireLebanonComprehensive Cancer CenterGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New JerseyNew JerseyNew BrunswickComprehensive Cancer CenterRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer CenterNew MexicoAlbuquerqueComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of New Mexico
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer CenterNew YorkCold Spring HarborBasic Laboratory Cancer CenterIndependent
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer CenterNew YorkNew YorkComprehensive Cancer CenterColumbia University
Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer CenterNew YorkNew YorkComprehensive Cancer CenterNYU Langone Health
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNew YorkComprehensive Cancer CenterIndependent
Montefiore Einstein Cancer CenterNew YorkThe BronxComprehensive Cancer CenterAlbert Einstein College of Medicine
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterNew YorkBuffaloComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity at Buffalo
Tisch Cancer InstituteNew YorkNew YorkComprehensive Cancer CenterIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Wilmot Cancer InstituteNew YorkRochesterClinical Cancer CenterUniversity of Rochester
Duke Cancer InstituteNorth CarolinaDurhamComprehensive Cancer CenterDuke University Medical Center
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterNorth CarolinaChapel HillComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer CenterNorth CarolinaWinston-SalemComprehensive Cancer CenterWake Forest University
Case Comprehensive Cancer CenterOhioClevelandComprehensive Cancer CenterCleveland Clinic, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and Case Western Reserve University
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research InstituteOhioColumbusComprehensive Cancer CenterOhio State University
Stephenson Cancer CenterOklahomaOklahoma CityClinical Cancer CenterThe University of Oklahoma
Knight Cancer InstituteOregonPortlandComprehensive Cancer CenterOregon Health and Science University
Abramson Cancer CenterPennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Pennsylvania
Fox Chase Cancer CenterPennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaComprehensive Cancer CenterTemple University Health System
Sidney Kimmel Cancer CenterPennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaComprehensive Cancer CenterThomas Jefferson University
UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterPennsylvaniaPittsburghComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Wistar Institute Cancer CenterPennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaBasic Laboratory Cancer CenterIndependent
Hollings Cancer CenterSouth CarolinaCharlestonClinical Cancer CenterMedical University of South Carolina
St. Jude Children's Research HospitalTennesseeMemphisComprehensive Cancer CenterIndependent
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer CenterTennesseeNashvilleComprehensive Cancer CenterVanderbilt University Medical Center
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer CenterTexasHoustonComprehensive Cancer CenterBaylor College of Medicine
Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer CenterTexasDallasComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San AntonioTexasSan AntonioClinical Cancer CenterUniversity of Texas Health Science Center
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterTexasHoustonComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Texas
Huntsman Cancer InstituteUtahSalt Lake CityComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Utah
Massey Comprehensive Cancer CenterVirginiaRichmondComprehensive Cancer CenterVirginia Commonwealth University
University of Virginia Cancer CenterVirginiaCharlottesvilleComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Virginia School of Medicine
Fred Hutchinson/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer ConsortiumWashingtonSeattleComprehensive Cancer CenterFred Hutchinson Cancer Center, the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital
University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer CenterWisconsinMadisonComprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has facilities in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, but is counted as a single institution. It is headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota.
  2. ↑ The District of Columbia is not a state, but rather a federal district.
  3. 1 2 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.
  1. ↑ "NCI-Designated Cancer Centers". National Cancer Institute. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 "NCI-Designated Cancer Centers". National Cancer Institute. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Newly Registered Patients: Data Table 3". National Cancer Institute. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "PAR-17-095: Cancer Center Support Grants (CCSGs) for NCI-designated Cancer Centers (P30)". grants.nih.gov.
  5. ↑ "treat the immune system, attack the cancer". MD Anderson Cancer Center.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "Find a Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "University of Arizona Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  12. ↑ "City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  16. ↑ "Salk Institute Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI)". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  19. ↑ "About Us". Stanford Medicine Cancer Institute.
  20. ↑ "UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  21. ↑ "USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  22. ↑ "University of Colorado Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  23. ↑ "Yale Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  24. ↑ "Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  25. ↑ "About Our NCI Designation". Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  26. ↑ "Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  27. ↑ "Moffitt Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  28. ↑ "Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  29. ↑ "University of Florida Health Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  30. ↑ "Winship Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  31. ↑ "University of Hawai'i Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  32. ↑ "Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  33. ↑ "The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  34. ↑ "Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  35. ↑ "Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  36. ↑ "Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  37. ↑ "The University of Kansas Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  38. ↑ "University of Kansas Cancer Center - NCI Designation".
  39. ↑ "Markey Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  40. ↑ "The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  41. ↑ "Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  42. ↑ "University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  43. ↑ "Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC)". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  44. ↑ "David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  45. ↑ "The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  46. ↑ "University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  47. ↑ "Masonic Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  48. ↑ "Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  49. ↑ "Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  50. ↑ "Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  51. ↑ "Dartmouth". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  52. ↑ "Rutgers Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  53. ↑ "University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  54. ↑ "Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  55. ↑ "Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  56. ↑ "Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  57. ↑ "Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  58. ↑ "Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  59. ↑ "Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  60. ↑ "Hospital and Institute Affiliation".
  61. ↑ "Tisch Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  62. ↑ "Wilmot Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  63. ↑ "Duke Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  64. ↑ "UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  65. ↑ "Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  66. ↑ "Case Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  67. ↑ "The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  68. ↑ "Stephenson Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  69. ↑ "OHSU Knight Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  70. ↑ "Abramson Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  71. ↑ "Fox Chase Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  72. ↑ "Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  73. ↑ "UPMC Hillman Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  74. ↑ "Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center of The Wistar Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  75. ↑ "Hollings Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  76. ↑ "St. Jude Children's Research Hospital". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  77. ↑ "Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  78. ↑ "Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  79. ↑ "Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  80. ↑ "Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  81. ↑ "The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  82. ↑ "Huntsman Cancer Institute". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  83. ↑ "VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  84. ↑ "University of Virginia Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  85. ↑ "Fred Hutch / University of Washington / Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  86. ↑ "University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center". National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2 June 2025.