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A Comprehensive Cancer Center: What Does it Mean for You?

Man comforting woman with cancer

UVA Health has the first cancer center in Virginia named a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). We are among the elite centers in the United States to receive the NCI's highest designation. 

What is 'Comprehensive'?

This designation means we’re leaders in cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Our programs serve 3.2 million people in Virginia and eastern West Virginia. Our groundbreaking research helps us bring you:

  • More targeted life-saving therapies
  • Advanced diagnostics to catch cancer earlier
  • The most up-to-date knowledge to prevent cancer
  • Robust clinical trials with access to the latest treatments

How does 'comprehensive' help you? It means you get 360 degree care. You'll benefit from every aspect of our knowledge and experience in treating cancer.

Groundbreaking Research

Funding for cancer research at UVA totals more than $30 million each year. Our research is organized around four programs:

  • Cancer Biology: This program works to understand what happens at a cellular level for cancer to develop and spread in the body. Researchers can then make treatments that stop cancer by targeting these processes.
  • Molecular Genetics and Epigenetics: This program looks at how DNA changes lead to cancer. This kind of research recently led to new treatments. But there are many more targets for researchers to discover.
  • Cancer Therapeutics: This programs turns research discoveries into new treatments. It also works to stop the most common and deadly cancers in Virginia and eastern West Virginia. These include breast, colorectal, lung, and skin cancers.
  • Cancer Control and Population Health: Researchers identify barriers to cancer prevention and treatment in underserved areas.

Robust Clinical Trials

In recent years, we’ve more than doubled the number of people enrolled in our clinical trials. Clinical trials give you access to the latest treatments.

For example, we recently participated in the first National Institutes of Health-sponsored study for CAR T-cell therapy to treat pediatric leukemia. That clinical trial gave children early access to this advanced therapy.

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