UC Irvine’s Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center has been the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center in Orange County since 1994. Of the 5,000 cancer centers nationally, this elite accreditation is only given to 1.3% of cancer centers that demonstrate excellence in research (laboratory, clinical, population-based) across multiple disciplines, serve the local community and a broader population, and integrate cancer research into multi-disciplinary cancer treatment so that the fullest potential for cure can be attained.
This designated status is crucial to advancing patient care because:
- 70% of all research funding from the NCI is awarded to these centers
- Provides patients access to therapies before they become available to the general public
- Support for training scientists, physicians and other professionals
- Newest laboratory and imaging facilities
- Inter-disciplinary teamwork that establishes optimized care pathways
- Ensures that our patients always have access to the most cutting edge, sophisticated therapies often pioneered from our own research laboratories
- Our doctors are also internationally respected academicians and researchers
