UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is a matrix cancer center at one of the nation’s premier public universities. The center achieved NCI designation in 1975 and became a comprehensive center in 1990. Now under the direction of Dr. Shelton Earp, UNC Lineberger is the organizing structure for cancer care and research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The center's 260 members come from Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Dentistry, as well as from departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and other professional schools. They represent diverse disciplines including psychology, physics, computer science, fundamental biology, genetics, and chemistry, population, behavioral, statistical, and the clinical sciences. Members currently hold over $160 million in annual research and training grants, including $48 million in NCI funding.

In the summer of 2007, the NC General Assembly established the University Cancer Research Fund to support cancer research at UNC Lineberger and the NC Cancer Hospital. In 2007-2008, the fund will contribute $25 million. In 2008-2009, the support will rise to $40 million, and in 2009-2010 and thereafter support will be $50 million per year. UNC Lineberger and the NC Cancer Hospital will use these funds to make UNC a national leader in cancer research and care and to lower the cancer burden in North Carolina.

Patient care
UNC Lineberger offers treatment for a wide range of cancers using a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care. The 13 multidisciplinary programs include all major adult and pediatric solid and hematologic malignancies. About 3,000 new cancer patients are diagnosed or first treated each year. Patients from all 100 North Carolina counties make more than 100,000 outpatient visits annually. The center offers novel therapies via a comprehensive program of clinical trials. Patients have access to a wide range of support services including a resource center, patient counselors, and support groups. Construction is underway on the NC Cancer Hospital, funded by a $180 million bond issue provided by the NC General Assembly. With an estimated completion date of 2009, the new facility will greatly enhance all facets of patient care and clinical research, including prevention activities for patients’ family members.

Research activities
UNC Lineberger’s mission is to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality in North Carolina and the nation through research, treatment, training, and outreach. The center emphasizes interdisciplinary basic, clinical, and translational cancer research and a population sciences program spanning epidemiology, early detection, prevention, and behavioral science.

Other programs
UNC Lineberger holds Specialized Programs of Research Excellence in breast and GI cancers, a DoD Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence, and a recently awarded Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence. Cancer Center faculty also direct the CDC coordinating center for the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network and large population-based case-control studies.

UNC Lineberger outreach activities extend across North Carolina to increase cancer prevention and screening activities through partnerships with community leaders, businesses and government agencies. The Center has special research expertise in medically underserved populations and health disparities as well as an emerging strength in molecular studies of racial differences in breast, colon and prostate cancers. == References =