Cancer Center Structure

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is a world-class, community-based cancer research and care partnership spanning two states and involving collaboration among researchers, physicians and cancer support professionals. Together, we are working toward a world without cancer.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is transforming cancer research and clinical care by linking our innovative approach to drug discovery, delivery and development to our nationally accredited patient care program. Our partnership includes cancer research and health care professionals associated with the University of Kansas Medical Center and The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, The University of Kansas in Lawrence, the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita, The Stowers Institute for Medical Research and the members of the Midwest Cancer Alliance.

Our research programs include Cancer Biology, Cancer Prevention, Cancer Control and Population Health, and Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics. Shared resources include Biospecimen, Biostatistics and Informatics, Clinical Research Office and Lead Development and Optimization.

Disease-specific working groups, including both clinicians and basic research investigators, promote collaborative opportunities and the exchange of research ideas. The disease working groups define clinical research priorities respective to their disease specialty with an emphasis on Investigator Initiated Trials (IITs). The cancer center’s current disease working groups include lung, hematology/bone marrow transplant, gastrointestinal, genitor-urinary, head and neck, breast and brain.

Breaking new ground in cancer research requires state-of-the-art facilities. A 82,400-square-foot University of Kansas Clinical Research Center, which opened in January 2012, houses the Phase I clinical trials program. A recently remodeled, 170,000-square-foot Wahl/Hixon research complex, known as The Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute, will house 37 cancer-focused researchers.

Building a world-class cancer center that is at the forefront of discovery, development and implementation is just the beginning. The legacy of The University of Kansas Cancer Center endures when discoveries made here benefit cancer patients everywhere.