Cancer Center Support Grant

The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) was designated as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center in 1972 and gained Comprehensive status in 1979. Under the Directorship of Anil K. Rustgi, MD, the HICCC is the critical driver of cancer research, clinical trials, innovative cancer care, cancer education and training, and community outreach at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH). During the current project period (2020-2024), CUIMC and NYPH supported the following: (1) new research initiatives in basic, translational, clinical, and population sciences with >75 strategic faculty recruitments; (2) new and expanded facilities for laboratory research, dry bench research and clinical activities; and (3) support of the HICCC’s administrative core. Rustgi has the unequivocal authority over cancer research space and cancer care facilities, further reinforced through his dual roles as Associate Dean of Oncology (CUIMC) and Chief of Cancer Services (NYPH). Over this project period, there was a greater focus upon transdisciplinary cross-cutting scientific themes that catalyzed the restructuring of the four scientific Research Programs encompassing 203 Members from 32 Departments and six Schools: (1) Cancer Genomics and Epigenomics; (2) Tumor Biology and Microenvironment; (3) Precision Oncology and Systems Biology; and (4) Cancer Population Science. Importantly, the HICCC has vibrant offices dedicated to Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) and Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination Enhancement (CRTEC). Rustgi has also enhanced the eight Shared Resources. The Research Programs engendered impactful science with 1,912 cancer relevant research publications of which 24% were intra-programmatic and 15% were inter-programmatic. Total peer-reviewed research funding is $81.1M, of which $37.9M is from NCI and $31.2 is from other NIH agencies, and $11.6M is form other peer-reviewed organizations. Total cancer-relevant research funding is $123.6M. The HICCC is requesting CCSG support of $3,922,908 per year (direct costs) for the next project period and continued designation as “Comprehensive”.